IBA has suspended all classes for two days starting today 17th September till 18th September considering a student contracting the coronavirus at the IBA hostel, on Wednesday. The student has been isolated, and all classes have been suspended.
Merely two days after all educational institutions reopened after a six-month hiatus, IBA had to suspend its classes at both the Karachi University campus and the city campus located in Karachi’s Garden area. During this time, the management will enhance IBA’s SOPs and increase COVID-19 testing of their community.
All educational activities during this time period will be suspended and no teachers or students will be allowed to enter the premises at both the campuses. However, according to an IBA spokesperson, all other IBA operations will continue as per routine; this means non-teaching staff and faculty members will continue with their duties.
According to the sources, the first COVID positive case emerged in the hostel at IBA Karachi university campus. The hostel students have been on campus since 1st September and the positive cases hailed from Islamabad; the student had been coming to the campus and taking classes with other students as per routine.
The administration plans to disinfect both the campuses to contain the spread of the virus.
Students are unable to understand what good a two-day suspension would do now? The management should either suspend classes for atleast two weeks or implement a hybrid system where the students can have the option of taking classes online. Only students who don’t have internet access shall be allowed to come to the IBA premises.
However, the problem will persist for the IBA hostelites, since they come from far off cities and cannot return immediately; they don’t have anywhere to live but the hostels. But distance can be maintained even there.
Other sources have revealed how cafeteria and canteen have been open for everyone where people obviously have to take their masks off for eating. More than 5 to 8 people use the elevator together and a large number of students travel together everyday in close proximity in IBA shuttles.
They said that many students and teachers were seen using the elevators of both campuses, without even wearing masks or following other SOPs.
As per the reports, IBA spokesperson did not verify the number of cases that had emerged from both the campuses.
With the assistance of district administration, we have managed to conduct hundreds of Covid tests and the results were being awaited, he said.
Moreover, according to the National Command and Operations Centre, 22 educational institutes have been shut down in the last 48 hours for violatin coronavirus SOPs. Strict action will be taken against these institutions.
Sharmila Farooqui recently tweeted the following:
22 schools have been closed across Pakistan within 48 hours of their opening, none was following sop’s. Staff members testing positive. Our children, our assets are at extreme risk. I reiterate that opening educational institutions now was a bad decision.
— Sharmila faruqi (@sharmilafaruqi) September 17, 2020
The entire situation is creating panic, fear and anxiety among students and faculty members. Reopening of institutions was already a risky decision. Many students may have immune compromised or elderly people at home who are at a potential risk.
Do you think reopening of institutions was a rational decision? Share thoughts in comments below.
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