The government will finalise a plan on how educational institutions will operate with reduced electricity consumption amid the ongoing global energy crisis at the next cabinet meeting, said Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Sunday.

“A decision on whether to introduce online classes will be taken at the highest policy-making level and the proposal would likely be placed before the cabinet after consultations with stakeholders.The Cabinet Division will brief the media,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.

The next cabinet meeting is scheduled for April 9 as meetings are usually held on Thursdays.

Earlier, at a cabinet meeting on March 2, the government decided to reduce office hours by one hour to save energy, a measure that came into effect on Sunday.

It also ordered shops and shopping malls to close by 6pm, along with suspending loans for government officials to purchase vehicles and cutting fuel allocations by 30 percent.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani said the Education Ministry would issue separate guidelines for educational institutions taking into account the need for further discussions.

The government is considering a blended system combining online and in-person classes to ensure learning continues without disruption, said the minister.

“We are encouraging online education alongside physical classes, as the duration of the global energy crisis remains uncertain,” he said.