ISLAMABAD: Pakistani education minister Shafqat Mahmood said late on Thursday night that the Cambridge International Examination (CIE) board had agreed to reschedule O level exams in Pakistan to after May 15 in light of a growing number of coronavirus cases.
Earlier this week, Mahmood announced that all education institutions located in areas with high coronavirus positivity rates would remain closed until April 11 as a third wave of the disease builds in the country.
“After detailed discussions, Cambridge has agreed to reschedule ‘O’ level exams to after May 15. Details will be shared later by them,” Mahmood said on Twitter. “However, ‘A’ and ‘As’ level exams will take place as per the original timetable, following all the SOPs. Wishing everyone success in the exams.”
After detailed discussions, Cambridge has agreed to reschedule ‘O’ level exams to after May 15. Details will be shared later by them. However, ‘A’ and ‘As’ level exams will take place as per the original timetable, following all the SOPs. Wishing everyone success in the exams
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) March 25, 2021
Earlier in the day, Mahmood tweeted: “Educational institutions are closed on the advice of health authorities. Decisions about exams are being made considering what is best for them. Have faith.”
I also want all students to know that our decisions are made keeping their best interest in view not what is popular. Educational institutions are closed on the advice of health authorities. Decisions about exams are being made considering what is best for them. Have faith
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) March 25, 2021
At a press conference on Wednesday, Mahmood said the government was aware that closing schools was affecting children’s education “but we are also concerned about their health.”
The government had already announced a two-week spring break for education institutes in Peshawar, Islamabad and several cities of Punjab province earlier this month to bring the rising number of COVID-19 infections under control.
The break was scheduled to end on March 26, but federal and provincial authorities decided to review the situation as the number of active coronavirus cases doubled in the last three weeks and the positivity ratio shot above eight percent.
In a separate statement on Monday, Mahmood said he was not in favor of shutting down education institutes but the government believed there was a high risk of coronavirus spreading in schools.
“50 million children are linked with education,” he said, “and if someone got infected, the disease would spread.”
