Education Minister Dipu Moni said this on Wednesday while attending a virtual program of the unveiling of a survey on online education conducted by Bangladesh Education Reporters' Forum. 

The study shows that 42% of secondary level and 58% higher secondary level students are taking part in online education.

And internet cost has gone up to Tk1,000 for 54% of students and 94% of participants have access to smartphones. 

Closure of educational institutions

Earlier on Oct 29, the government extended the closure of educational institutions until November 14 to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The previously announced shutdown ended on October 31.

Also read: Educational institutions to remain closed until Nov 14

No annual exams for secondary school students

The government has decided not to hold any annual exam for secondary school students this year due to the pandemic.

Also, the Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) exams will not be held this time.

"No exam will be held this year and the students will be promoted to the next class without taking any test. A decision about awarding certificates will be taken later," Dipu Moni said on October 21.

No HSC exam this year

Meanwhile, the government also decided not to hold any Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams this year.

Also, there will be no Primary Education Completion (PEC), and equivalent Ebtedayee exam for 2020, and the students will be promoted to the next class through class assessments instead.

UGC directives for online education

On May 7, the University Grants Commission (UGC) published a guideline on conducting courses online, including teaching, arranging exams, making assessments, and also private university admission tests.

Bangladesh's Covid-19 picture

Bangladesh on Wednesday reported 1,733 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, bringing the caseload to 425,353.

Also, 19 more patients died from the virus at that time, taking the fatalities to 6,127.

So far, 343,131 patients – 80.67% – including 1,715 new ones in the past 24 hours have recovered.

Also read: Covid-19 cases in Bangladesh surge to 425,353; 19 more die in 24 hrs