ISLAMABAD: The government has postponed all examinations including those of local boards and the Cambridge system till June 1 due to the situation arising out of coronavirus.
This was announced by Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood at a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The minister said the foreign institutions as well as domestic boards were bound to implement the government’s decisions. “If the situation improves, the examination boards may conduct the postponed exams between June 1 and July 15,” he said.
Shafqat Mahmood said due to delay in exams, the universities had also been directed to delay their admissions.
He said it was not necessary for teachers and other staff to come to the educational institutions, if the need did not arise.
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The minister for education said that all the schools including public and private as well as seminaries had been closed till Apr 5 as per the decision of the National Security Committee. He said it would be decided on Mar 27 whether or not the educational institutions had to be reopened.
He said the government was cogitating to broadcast lectures through PTV for students.
Shafqat Mahmood said arrangements were also being made to engage the students in their homes through online lectures in case if the schools were further closed. In this regard, technology support and content committees had also been set up, he said.
The minister said all cultural events had also been postponed due to the current situation.
“The federal government is working in cohesion with the provinces to take all possible measures to contain the spread of coronavirus,” he said.
He said the decision to evacuate students from university hostels had been implemented. However, he explained, that international students were exempted from the decision.
