State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain said schools, closed since March last year due to Covid-19 pandemic, will be reopened after getting directives from the highest level of the government.

“We can’t reopen the schools suddenly. We have taken all-out preparations and if the Prime Minister orders us today we are prepared to reopen schools from tomorrow,” he told reporters at the Secretariat.

Zakir said experts favour reopening of schools as the students are out of classes for the past one and half years.

“We also face problems in online,” he said.

Also read: Schools, colleges asked to prepare for reopening, guidelines issued

He said teachers are going to the schools and taking classes online. The students are studying despite the closure of the schools and theyare also given worksheets.

“If the government decides to reopen schools, then the classes of the primary students will be taken in two segments. We have a plan to take two-day classes in a week for the students of class III, IV and V while the class I students will be allowed for one day in a week. We are also thinking about giving a short syllabus under our curriculum,” he said.

Referring to the Primary Education Completion (PEC) and its equivalent examinations the minister said “The decision whether the PEC and its equivalent examinations will be done on physical or evaluation basis, will be taken considering the situation. If the situation persists, we will go for an evaluation like last year.”

Earlier, in the day, the education authorities have issued some guidelines as part of preparations to reopen educational institutions which have remained closed since March last year due to Covid pandemic.

The teachers of primary schools have been instructed to return to their work places from Tuesday.

The Primary Education Directorate asked the upazila/thana education officers to inspect the schools in their jurisdiction within a week.

Also read: Covid surge in Bangladesh: Primary schools to remain shut until Aug 31

Besides, it also gave instructions to keep the institutions clean and tidy by taking utmost care to prevent dengue.

Besides, the Directorate of Secondary & Higher Education (DSHE) asked the regional directors to take necessary preparations to reopen schools and colleges.

According to education ministry sources, most of the teachers and staffers of the educational institutions have been vaccinated.