Punjab’s Education Minister while addressing a press conference said that no school is allowed to start their operations until any further orders. The cases of corona virus have taken a severe rise and therefore, any such practices shall be dealt according to law. One of the top priorities for the government is to save the lives of its stakeholders which are students, staff and faculty members. Any of the school that tends to open its gates for conventional operations will be issued a warning and a strict action will be taken by the authorities.

Contrary to that, All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) has been continuously raising their voices for opening up of schools. The argument put forward is that social distancing will be practiced strictly and international SOPs will also be followed religiously. In addition to that, schools will be run in two shifts, morning and afternoon for three hours each for keeping the number minimum during each shifts. Private schools also carried out a protest last month in which they expressed their grievances as closure of business will dry up their finance.

As a result, governments of provinces have remained firm in their decision of not opening up the schools. However, Punjab government had also instructed all the private schools to give a fee waiver of 20% until the opening up of schools. On asking the reopening of schools, Education Minister said that lives of our loved ones can’t be put at risk.