Rawalpindi - The Punjab government has issued orders to close private and government schools in all districts of the province due to increasing smog and air pollution.
Due to increasing smog and air pollution in Punjab, it has been decided to keep all schools completely closed until November 17 and shift half of the staff of private institutions online.
Earlier, it was decided to keep educational institutions closed in 8 districts of Punjab, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Rawalpindi, D.G. Khan, Sargodha and Sahiwal, but the Punjab Education Minister has now issued orders to close schools across the province, a notification of which has also been issued.
According to the notification, all government and private schools in the province will remain closed until November 17, while the notification has directed that government and private educational institutions and tuition centers be shifted to online sessions.
According to officials, the decision to keep educational institutions closed has been taken due to the increase in the Air Quality Index and the increase in respiratory, eye and throat diseases due to air pollution.
Statement of the Punjab Education Minister
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said that in view of the increasing effects of smog, schools are being closed in all districts. The decision was made in light of the complaints received from the districts.
He said that there is a sense of educational loss, but the step of closing educational institutions is being taken out of compulsion. This extreme decision had to be taken to protect children from the deadly effects. In view of the difficulties in online teaching, alternative strategies are being brought soon.
