Govt Can not afford to open school right now, Saeed Ghani

KARACHI: Despite building pressure and protests from all private schools association, Saeed Ghani, Sindh Education Minister has said that the government cannot take the risk of reopening educational institutions at this time.

“We understand that there is a risk of the virus spreading to children by opening the educational institutions at the moment, but if such standard operating procedures are set up, we can open the schools twice a day, in two shifts in order to accommodate all students while also observing social distancing. Because the parents only pay the fee when their child attends school,” he added.

In response, the education minister said that he was well aware of the fact that private educational institutions were facing a severe financial crisis due to the non-payment of fees. “And that is why we have repeatedly appealed to parents to take care of their children’s compulsory submission of fees,” he said.

No SOPs in vans

“But we cannot take the risk of reopening educational institutions at this time. Even if the school administration implements SOPs, the children come to school in school vans. There is no implementation of SOPs there,” he pointed out.

He also explained that the Sindh government was not in a position to provide interest-free loans and financial assistance to private educational institutions though the federal government could do so.

Saeed Ghani further said that children from classes one to eight had been promoted to the next level while students from classes nine to 12 have to be promoted.

However, amendments are to be made in law in this regard, which is also being done, he said.

He added that to discuss the finer points of all these issues, including details of the next academic year, a meeting of the steering committee of the education department will be convened and an announcement will be made in consultation with it soon.