School children at risk

The parents have appealed to higher authorities to close down educational institutions for two weeks to normalize the situation.

Rawalpindi: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and the situation seems to be going out of control but all private and public schools have remained open with 100 percent attendance. The situation is not being taken seriously. Only the branches of the Army Public Schools (APS) have been closed for a week.

“The educational institutions under the control of Army Public School (APS) would remain closed till further notice,” an official from the management of APS schools told on Wednesday.

The educational institutions of Punjab and the Federal Government could face a serious situation of COVID-19 spreading in students of classes 1 – 5. However, students of APS were taking online classes for a week.

Provincial Education Minister Murad Rass had directed to continue classes with 50 percent presence of students from the age of 12. Above 12-years would attend classes with 100 percent presence. All public and private educational institutions are on 100 percent attendance. Even 12-years old are attending classes with 100 percent.

Additional District Collector General (ADCG) Captain (r) Qasim Ijaz told that we are continuously closing educational institutions where COVID-19 cases are being reported. “We are waiting for a proper notification from the Punjab government with 50 percent students at the age of 12-years,” He reported that surveillance teams remained in the field to check COVID-19 cases.

The parents have appealed to higher authorities to close down educational institutions for two weeks till the normalization. In fear of COVID-19, the majority of parents were reluctant to send their children to schools. The local management has closed 8 schools and three colleges on the appearance of COVID-19 cases.

The local management has closed Government Comprehensive Higher Secondary School Dhoke Kashmirian, Government Islamia High School No1 Jhangi Mohallah, Government High School Ratta Amral, Government Higher Secondary School No1 Bagh Sardaran, Government Girls Elementary School Kurri Doral Gujar Khan, Beaconhouse School System (BSS) Tipu Sultan Road, Government Boys High School Khayaban, Government Girls High School Tench Bhatta, Government Degree College for Women Dhoke Ratta, Government Associate College for Women Dhoke Syedan and Government Degree College for Women Mohan Pura.

The local management has imposed ‘Smart Lockdown’ in some areas. The local management badly failed to implement the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in bazaars. Over 80 percent of citizens are without masks but local management is not taking the matter seriously.