Punjab Teachers’ Union (PTU) has opposed the reopening of schools in the province due to continuous surge in COVID-19 cases.
The PTU has advised the government against the reopening of primary and middle schools in the province amid coronavirus threat.
Chaudhry Sarfraz – Central President PTU contented that due to such large number of students, the schools will be unable to accommodate pupils in classrooms with substantial distance between them as per the safety guidelines and SOPs issued by the government.
Furthermore, he also highlighted schools’ inability to provide hand sanitizers and face masks citing lack of financial resources and therefore students will be at risk if the schools are reopened under such circumstances.
PTU has urged government to devise a policy to reopen schools in various steps and has recommended that at first students of class IX to XII should be allowed to attend classes at varying timings from 6:30 am to 9:30 am.
In addition to it, the government has also been advised to devise its policies for the reopening of schools at district level instead of provincial, so that the local authorities can effectively and efficiently implement the healthcare SOPs to ensure the safety of students and staff and curb the virus spread.
