The federal and provincial governments have agreed to reopen educational institutions across the country in a phased manner from January 18. The educational institutions were closed in the last week of November in the wake of a second wave of coronavirus pandemic.

“Students of classes 9 to 12 would resume studies from January 18, whereas the primary section up to class 8 would reopen from January 25. Colleges and universities are to reopen from February 1,” announced Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on Monday. The teachers and other administrative staff at school and colleges can start working from January 11 while schools could also start online classes from that date. The board examinations will be deferred this year till May-June, however, later in a tweet, the Federal Minister mentioned that "Let me emphasise that this year nobody will be promoted without exams,"

At the meeting, officials from the Federal Ministry for Health also briefed the forum on the latest situation concerning the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting also discussed proposals to hold board exams in the last week of May and early June while reducing the number of winter vacations.

Schedule of reopening:

Jan 18: Classes 9 to 12 to resume
Jan 25: Classes 1 to 8 to resume
Feb 1: Higher educational institutions to resume

Educational institutions saw months-long closure in 2020 due to Covid-19. They were closed in March and then reopened in September only to be shut down again the next month due to the constant rise in coronavirus cases.