Islamabad, Jul 9 (IANS): Schools across Pakistan should be reopened in September subject to approval from the National Coordination Committee (NCC) amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provincial Education Ministers said.

It was decided during the inter-provincial Education Ministers' virtual conference on Wednesday that educational institutions will be opened in the first week of September, provided there is permission from the Ministry of National Health Services and approval from the NCC, which had previously decided to keep schools closed until July 15, reports Dawn news.

Sources said that various proposals were discussed to extend the closure of schools or reopen.

After a detailed discussion, the participants decided that institutions should stay closed until the first week of September and reopened after the coronavirus situation has been reviewed under standard operating procedures (SOPs).

"Two major policy decisions were taken today. First, the participants of the meeting recommended extending the closure of institutions until the first week of September.

"Secondly, the meeting also showed willingness to allow professional exams to be conducted under strict SOPs," a source said.

Many private schools have been seeking permission to reopen, while parents of students have opposed the opening of schools on July 16 due to the pandemic and the summer weather.