KARACHI: President All Pakistan Private Schools Association Kashif Mirza is adamant that schools will reopen on Aug 15, despite warning from the government that strict action would be taken against those opening schools before Sept 15.

The interprovincial meeting of education ministers headed by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood has said that they would further review the coronavirus pandemic situation on Sept 7 prior to opening schools.

On the other hand, the APPSA president believes that the government would not open schools on Sept 15 as well. He said the date given by the government was conditional.

Also Read: Schools across country to reopen on Sept 15

In response to a medical report that children could prove super spreader of coronavirus if negligence was shown, Kashif Mirza said that according to the World Health Organisation report if a child was out of school for 6 months, he would take 5 years to fill the gap.

He said 74 percent parents according to Gallup survey want that schools should be reopened. 75 million children were out of school, 1.5 million teachers had become jobless and more than 0.2 million schools were ruined, he added.

He claimed that only some elite schools were taking fees amid pandemic and 99 percent of schools were not taking fees.

The president private schools association said that child labour was rising because schools were closed. He said even administrative offices of schools were not allowed to open to collect fees.