Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani on Monday took notice of early reopening of educational institutions in the metropolis and directed authorities concerned to suspend the registration of schools that violated closure orders. The provincial education minister took strict notice of reopening of schools in several areas of Karachi and issued directives to secretary education and director-general private schools. “The private schools association’s decision about reopening of educational institutions tantamount to challenge the writ of the government,” he said in a statement. The minister directed concerned district commissioners to take strict measures against the administration of schools defying government orders. “No one would be allowed to play with lives of children,” added Saeed Ghani. Despite clear directions from the provincial government, several private schools have been reopened in Karachi after the closure of five months due to Covid-19 outbreak. On July 21, the spokesperson of the Sindh government, Senator Murtaza Wahab had said that the provincial authorities had not taken any decision to reopen schools from August 15. While addressing a press conference, Murtaza Wahab had clarified that the provincial government would not allow reopening schools from August 15. It was noteworthy to mention here that the private schools’ association had earlier announced to resume activities in schools from August 15 across the province. On the other hand, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas on Monday hinted at the reopening of schools in two shifts across the province from September 15. “We are mulling for reopening of schools in two shifts as it would be better for children”, the minister said in his statement. Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas said that standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be finalised in meeting with the schools owners and added that final decision about reopening of schools in Punjab will be taken in the first week of August. Earlier this week, it was decided that the educational institutions in the country would reopen from September 15. Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood had chaired a meeting of all education ministers which finalised that the schools and universities would resume classes from next month. Last week, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani had warned against early reopening of educational institutions in the province. In a statement, Saeed Ghani had termed the private schools association’s decision about reopening of educational institutions tantamount to challenge the writ of the government. Also, the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on Monday sealed a private school in Bannu over resuming classes by violating government orders. The action followed after the assistant commissioner received complaints regarding forcing parents to send their children to school. Yesterday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Education Minister Akbar Ayub Khan had said that private schools were only allowed to open to deal with their administrative matters. “Parents should inform the government if they are pressurized to send their children to schools”, he had said in his reaction over the opening of schools in Swat. Khan had added that only staff of the schools is allowed to come to school to discharge administrative matters and added that strict action would be taken against those schools, found violating the orders of the government. The minister said that threat of coronavirus still persists and urged the private schools’ administration to cooperate with the government. It may be noted that last week, the Provincial cabinet of KP had endorsed the decisions of NCOC regarding the opening of schools from September 15.