ISLAMABAD: Keeping in view the increase in novel Covid-19 cases, thefederal government has decided to open primary schools after April 28 whileclasses from 9th to 12th will start from tomorrow as planned, the federalminister announced Sunday.

Shafqat Mahmood, after attending a high-level meeting with education andhealth ministers, addressed in a national television presser.

He also shared a series of tweet stated on-campus classes for students tillgrade 8, in Covid affected districts, will remain suspended till April 28whereas the classes of grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 will be held under strictcompliance with SOPs from April 19 (tomorrow) onwards, so that thesestudents can complete their preparation for their final examinations.

It was also decided that classes 1 to 8 will remain closed. The detailswill be announced by the provinces and GB/AJK— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 18, 2021link

Punjab education minister had informed him that 13 districts across theprovince were affected by the novel disease, hence on-campus classes willnot be held there till the end of this month.

Universities in the Covid-19 affected districts will also remain closed andclasses will be held online. Adding that in other districts, universitieswill remain open and function as normal.

Universities in affected districts will continue online while in districtswith less than 8% positivity they will continue to function— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 18, 2021link

Shafqat also mentioned that all education and health ministers areunanimous in their decision to have the O and A level examinations proceedas scheduled. O and A level exams should continue as per schedule as thesestudents are very less and in our discussion with Cambridge, they assuredus that coronavirus SOPs will be followed strictly.