Social media once again trolls Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood due to the changes in dates for winter vacations. Sources confirmed to the media that National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), proposed new dates for the winter vacations.
Earlier, education ministers held a meeting yesterday to discuss the dates of the winter vacations. As a result, Shafqat Mahmood announced the “agreed proposal” for winter vacations, i.e. from December 25 to January 4. He also revealed the news on Twitter.
“Federal and provincial secretaries met today. The agreed proposal was that the winter holidays should be from Dec 25 to Jan 4.”
Furthermore, he also added that concerned government authorities will issue further notifications.
Federal and provincial secretaries met today. The agreed proposal was that winter holidays should be from Dec 25 to Jan 4. Further notifications will be from the concerned governments
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) December 14, 2021
However, various media sources reported that NCOC is considering moving the winter vacations to the end of January. According to the NCOC, schools are administering vaccines to students above the age of 12. Therefore, by delaying vacations, more children can receive vaccinations.
NCOC sources said the vaccination process will carry on in educational institutions, adding that educational institutions will remain closed in areas where heavy snowfall takes place.
Read more: Understanding the loopholes in Pakistan’s education system
Important to note, the Government of Sindh already announced winter vacations from December 20, 2021, to January 3, 2022.
Social media floods with memes
While the authorities decide on the new dates, students expressed their anxiety ahead of the announcement. With #ShafqatMahmood trending on Twitter, they once again shared hilarious memes on social media and trolled the Minister.
https://twitter.com/shigri_mohd/status/1470814878743113733?s=20
https://twitter.com/tehreem_khawar/status/1470704826187145227?s=20
https://twitter.com/shigri_mohd/status/1471010132318380035?s=20
Winter vacations for schools & colleges in January last week.#ShafqatMahmood #NCOC
Le… Students pic.twitter.com/WmOYuzyFiJ— Shahzaib Malik 🇵🇰🇵🇸 (@ShahzaibMalikPK) December 15, 2021
This is not the first time Shafqat Mahmood became the target of top Twitter trends run by students. Earlier this year, students ran Twitter campaigns on the Minister due to the uncertainty surrounding the cancellation of exams. To clarify, students demanded the cancellation of exams while the government claimed that no exams will be postponed or canceled this year.
Undeterred by extensive protests by the students, Shafqat Mahmood advised students to prepare for examinations instead of running Twitter trends calling for the cancellation of exams.