ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has recommended early and extended winter vacations for students amid a rise in the Covid-19 positivity ratio at educational institutions.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the NCOC, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar chaired a meeting of the forum and reviewed the epidemic curve data and the prevalence of the disease in the country.
The forum was told that positivity ratio was rising at educational institutions and there was a need to check this trend.
The forum decided that on November 16, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood will chair a special meeting at the NCOC to assess and review the positivity rate in educational institutions.
Provincial education ministers will also be taken on board, the statement said. It added that the recommendations decided upon would be shared with the provinces for decision-making and enforcement.
“The forum, taking into account a rising positivity ratio, has suggested early and extended winter vacations […] to ensure safety and health of students,” the statement added.
Last week, the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference had opposed long winter vacations. The ministers had recommended either no vacations or limiting them to a few days so that students could cover their courses.
Story source