HEC Issues Clarification On The Fake Notice Regarding Universities Closure

Higher Education Commission has issued a clarification on the fake notice regarding the closure of the universities. According to the HEC officials, no letter had been issued to close the educational institutes in the country. A fake letter is circulating on social media that claimed the universities have been directed to close their campuses and limit the number of students to 30% of enrolment. No such directions have been given by the HEC to the universities amid the upsurge in the coronavirus cases. Similarly the Punjab Education Minister, Murad Raas has also announced that despite the slight increase in the coronavirus the schools across the province Punjab will remain open. Random testing was done in the schools and up till now as per the reports, there is no alarming situation. 

Universities To Remain Open

The HEC has also said that the vice-chancellors of the universities hold the power to decide the issues of attendance and the other academic activities by considering the situation. The top priority is to protect the students as well as the teachers. Necessary steps have been taken to save the students from the second wave of the pandemic. As far as the decision to close the universities is concerned, only the health authorities can direct to shut down the universities if there will be an increase in the critical threshold in the coronavirus. Previously HEC also made the same claim and clearly stated that the universities will remain open. 

Safety Guidelines

HEC has issued the policy guidelines for all the universities of Pakistan to cope with the crisis of COVID-19. All the institutes are informed to ensure the proper implementation of SOPs to minimize the risk of the infection. Furthermore, the students are advised to wear a mask and maintain social distancing in the universities so the spread of the coronavirus can be halted.