Out of school children in Balochistan
Students at a shelterless school in Balochistan's district Killa Abdullah Machka: photo Asmat Khan

Committees formed to implement SOPs in Balochistan schools

Education Desk :

The government has formed committees to ensure the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in educational institutions. Three-member committees formed on district-level to implement SOPs and testing strategy in all schools across the province. Committees formed to cope with the COVID19 in around 14,000 government-run primary, middle and high schools in the province.

The secretary health Balochistan, Dostain Khan Jamaldini issued a notification in this regard. According to the notification, the deputy commissioner would be the chairman, and the district education officer, district health officer would perform as members of the committee.

Schools to open 

The Balochistan government has decided to open educational institutions phase-wise from September 15 in the province. In the first phase, universities would open and then schools as per the decision of the federal government.

Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) also formed to conduct screening and collect sampling at educational institutions/ schools in Balochistan. RRTs will be submitting data to the committee, corona cell, and health department government of Balochistan on daily basis, the notification mentioned.

The district health officers will ensure taking samples and fill the proforma of symptomatic/ suspected individuals of students and teachers.

100 samples a day

At least 100 samples should be collected by the RRTs from schools on daily basis. The teams would send them (samples) to the laboratory in Quetta for diagnosis. The laboratory would upload the results of the tests within 24 to 36 hours after receiving the samples.

The health department has already shared passwords and log in with districts, the notification added. The district education officers would deploy required staff at all schools to make sure the implementation of the SOPs and testing strategy. However, the Deputy Commissioners are also responsible for implementing SOPs and testing strategies at all schools.

Committees formed to implement SOPs in Balochistan schools

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Quetta Voice is an English Daily covering all unfolding political, economic and social issues relating to Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province in terms of area. QV's main focus is on stories related to education, promotion of quality education and publishing reports about out of school children in the province. QV has also a vigilant eye on health, climate change and other key sectors.