Low attendance in schools on first day
iSLAMABAD:19 January:Extremely low attendance was recorded as the educational institutions of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on reopening day after almost a two-month gap on Monday.
Children dreaded going through the standard operating procedures announced by the government for preventing the spread of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Canteens are shut so is the recess and extracurricular activities.
The classes from grade nine to twelve resumed with low strength of students however it is expected that full strength will return from Tuesday (today).
The education ministry had declared attendance of teaching, non-teaching, and grade- IV employees in schools of all levels across Punjab mandatory. The directives for strict action against the absentees have been issued too.
Schools to reopen in phases from Sept 15
Meanwhile, the Punjab education department has issued revised timings for educational institutions reopened amid coronavirus pandemic.
As per the notification, all single-shift schools will operate from 8:30am to 1:30pm from Monday to Friday while the timings on Friday would be from 8:15 am to 12:15 pm.
The schools operating second shifts will commence classes at 1 pm and end at 4:30 pm while the timings on Friday would be from 2pm to 5pm.
A new schedule regarding schools’ timings would be issued from April 1.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2021.
