Third Covid-19 wave: Closure of schools likely to be extended

Islamabad: With the coronavirus positivity ratio alarmingly nearing 10 per cent due to the spread of UK variant and business and mobility restrictions being slapped, the authorities don't rule out the possibility of extending schools closure in Islamabad.

The government has closed educational institutions in seven Punjab cities, Peshawar and Islamabad from March 15 to March 28 in light of a spike in COVID-19 incidence. As the country is currently witnessing the third wave of coronavirus, which the government sees as deadlier than the first two waves, the federal education officials warn if the situation gets out of control, schools will be closed for in-person learning for more time. They don't see the educational institutions reopen in near future.

Some officials claim that as the fasting month is to begin before the middle of next month (April), there is a high likelihood of the government announcing the resumption of in-person learning after the post-Ramazan Eid festival. However, many at the helm of affairs opposed further school closures saying such a move means more learning losses for students. They rather recommend strict enforcement of physical distancing and use of masks on campus and vaccination of students against virus.

A decision about in-person classes will be taken by the NCOC, the country's nerve centre for the fight against coronavirus, after consultation with the federal and provincial authorities.

The educational institutions were closed across the country twice last year due to the growing coronavirus cases. First, the in-person classes were suspended in late February 2020. They resumed in phases from September 15, 2020. Later, the second wave of coronavirus caused the closure of educational institutions from November 26, 2020, to January 18, 2021.