ISLAMABAD: Students of grade one to nine at schools across Pakistan resumed classes today, Monday, part of a phased reopening of educational institutions as the country battles a second wave of the coronavirus.
The federal and provincial education and health ministers announced on Friday that grades 9 to 12 would return to school from January 18 while grades 1 to 8, and university students, would resume classes from February 1.
On November 26, the government had shut down schools, saying students, including those at higher educational institutions as well as private schools, were expected to continue classes through distance learning until December 24 and then go on winter break until January 11.
“Tomorrow [Monday] classes 9 to 12, O and A level go back to school/ college,” federal education minister Shafqat Mahmood said on Twitter. “Wish them the very best. Their future is our main priority.”
Tomorrow classes 9 to 12, O and A level go back to school/ college. Wish them the very best. Their future is our main priority.
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) January 17, 2021
Pakistan has so far recorded 521,211 infections and almost 11,000 deaths.
Hamza Imran, a high school student at Islamabad’s Headstart School, said he preferred online classes.
“We’ll see how things pan out, from the looks of it they [school administration] are taking SOPs seriously,” he said as he walked in through the school gates.
Rida Naveed said she felt “amazing” to be back to school.
“I actually feel amazing because it’s been so long since schools have been open,” she said, adding that she looked forward to learning in person with her classmates and teachers.
Farhan Haider, an A’ Levels student at the Islamabad Model College for Boys, said he was ‘happy’ that classes had resumed, adding that it was exasperating to watch that schools had been closed while offices, restaurants and weddings had gone on with regular business.
“Corona is everywhere,” he said. “I think strictness should be applied elsewhere before it takes away from students.”
