Educational institutions up to HSC level to reopen from 12 September

After around 18 months, the government has decided to open the educational institutions up to higher secondary level from 12 September as the infection of novel coronavirus has decreased, said education minister Dipu Moni.

Education ministry’s senior public relations officer Abul Khair confirmed this to Prothom Alo on Friday.

All educational institutions in the country have been shut since 17 March last year. Earlier, the government said the institutions would remain closed until 11 September.

On Thursday night, the national technical committee on coronavirus affairs approved the educational institutions.

After the meeting, the committee president Mohammad Shahidullah told Prothom Alo that the infection rate has decreased by 70 per cent from its peak. Gradually the availability of vaccines is also being ensured. That is why the educational institutions could be opened now, given that some safety measures are taken, he added.

On the same night, education minister Dipu Moni hinted at a private television programme that gradual opening the educational institutions from 12 September could be taken.

A UNICEF report, published on 24 August, said Bangladesh is in the second position regarding days of keeping educational institutions close at a stretch for the Covid-19 situation, bringing uncertainty to the 40 million students from primary to tertiary levels.

The government was facing criticism for keeping educational institutions closed even after opening almost all other institutions.

At a meeting with secretaries on 18 August, prime minister Sheikh Hasina directed the concerned to open the educational institutions considering the infection rate and vaccination as soon as possible. On 2 September, she said in parliament that she had given directions to open school-college soon.

 

 

[Source: Prothom Alo]