Educational activities were fully restored throughout Pakistan after the primary schools reopened across the country on Wednesday as part of a phase-wise programme jointly announced by the federal and provincial governments, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In the first phase, hundreds of thousands of universities, colleges, schools and madrasas were reopened throughout Pakistan on September 15, ending an over six-month-long closure due to coronavirus pandemic.

The authorities had planned to resume educational activities in phases 187 days after suspending them. Thus, universities, colleges, schools (Class IX and X only) and madras were first to be reopened on September 15.

Later, the students from Class VI to VIII resumed their studies from September 23. Thus the students of primary schools/sections were the last to join their peers on Wednesday (September 30).

The federal and provincial governments agreed upon this phase-wise approach as they wanted to check whether reopening the educational institutions would have an effect on the coronavirus infection rate. 

Although some cases were reported among the teaching and non-teaching staff as well as the students in different parts of the country, the exercise showed that it was safe to fully start the educational activities after the months-long break.

However, the Sindh government was the only exception which had delayed the reopening of schools for middle sections (Class VI to VIII) on September 22 because of the emergence some coronavirus cases in educational institutions. But the students of all classes are back to schools in Sindh too.

As part of the precautionary measures, temperature was checked and sensitisation ensured at the main entrances in many institutions when the little kids (from nursery to Class V) wearing masks and accompanied by their parents reached the schools.

However, the story isn’t the same for everyone as many schools lacked basic precautionary measures due to lack of resources.

Moreover, the number of students joining their classes on the first day of reopening was low.