Strict action announced for opening educational institutions

LAHORE: The Punjab Education Department has issued instructions to keep government and private educational institutions closed until March 31, while announcing strict action against violations.

The School Education Department of Punjab has ordered all government and private schools and academies across the province to remain closed until March 31, making it clear that immediate and strict action will be taken against the violating institutions.

According to the authorities, if any private school is found open, it will be immediately sealed and its registration may also be canceled, while show cause notices will be issued to those responsible.

A strict stance was also taken regarding government schools and instructions were given that in case of non-compliance with the order, the salaries of teachers and headmasters can be withheld.

The Education Department has sought a daily implementation report, while 8 schools have already been sealed due to opposition.

On the other hand, a ban was also imposed on school admissions, which has affected the normal admission schedule. Usually, admissions from nursery to first grade are completed in the month of March, but this time the process has almost stopped and it is estimated that the admission rate may decrease significantly.

Representatives of private school organizations have criticized the decision, saying that the education sector has been turned into a field of experiments, while both the examination system and the admission process have been affected.

The District Education Authority of Rawalpindi has warned that some institutions are calling staff and students despite the closure, which is a violation of government orders. The authorities have made it clear that strict action will be taken against such actions and no institution will be allowed to open before March 31.