Education Minister Dipu Moni
Senior schools, universities to reopen on Feb 22: Dipu Moni
All secondary, higher secondary and university-level educational institutions in Bangladesh will reopen for physical classes on February 22, with strict Covid-safety protocols in place.
The decision has been taken in view of the declining Covid cases across Bangladesh, Education Minister Dipu Moni told reporters at the Secretariat on Thursday.
"Students aged 12 and above who have been vaccinated with the second dose of a Covid vaccine will be able to physically attend classes, while those who have jabbed only with the first dose will attend online classes," she said.
At the same time, preparations are being made to reopen primary schools in another two weeks, said Dipu Moni.
"In-person classes at primary schools will remain closed for another 10 to 14 days. Measures are being taken to vaccinate children below 12 years. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry and the Directorate General of Health Services are looking into the WHO approval issues," she added.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has already prepared the list of students eligible for Covid jabs at all primary schools, according to the Minister.
So far, 1,26,57,222 students have received the first Covid shot, while 34,40,448 have got the second dose of a Covid vaccine.
Asked if the number of classes will increase after the reopening of schools, Dipu Moni said, "We will try to increase the number of classes as the infection rate declines."
Read: Covid-19 Advisory Committee to meet tonight to discuss reopening of educational institutions: Dipu
Covid-19 Advisory Committee to meet tonight to discuss reopening of educational institutions: Dipu
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Wednesday said she hopes to reopen the educational institutions by this month, but a decision will be taken after a meeting with Covid-19 advisory committee later in the night.
“We will sit with the National Advisory Committee on Covid tonight and we’ll make a decision after observing the current Covid situation,” she told reporters.
Read: Dipu Moni hints at reopening of educational institutions soon
The matter will also be discussed with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said Dipu who talked to journalists after attending the oath taking ceremony for 29 newly elected UP chairmen at Chandpur deputy commissioner office.
She said when reopened classes will be taken considering the Covid situation.
On January 21, the government announced that all the schools and colleges of the country will remain closed from January 21 to February 6 amid a renewed surge in Covid-19 cases largely due to new Omicron variant.
The shutdown was extended until February 20 for the safety of the students as the virus continued to spread.
The following day, the education ministry issued an 11-point directive, including resuming online classes, for schools and colleges during the closure.
Besides, the vaccination of students, aged between 12 to 17 years, against Covid-19 was directed to be continued following the health guidelines in coordination with the zonal offices of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, District Education Office, Upazila Secondary Education Offices, local administrations and Civil Surgeons.
Read: Removal of VC up to President Hamid: Dipu Moni to SUST students
After a 17-month Covid-induced closure, the students in Bangladesh returned to their classrooms on September 12 last year.
The government shut the educational institutions on March 17, 2020, after the country reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8 and later the closure was extended several times.
SUST VC finally apologises over cop attack on students
Vice-Chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Farid Uddin Ahmed expressed regret over the police action on protesting students on January 16.
“I express my sincere sympathy to all of those, including students, teachers and staff injured in the unwanted incident on that day,” he said in a press statement.
The statement reads: “I express my sincere regret over the incident and I also express my gratitude to the teachers, students and staff who are trying to overcome the stalemate.”
The VC expressed regret a day after Education Minister Dipu Moni visited the university on Saturday.
Read: Now SUST students want removal of new proctor
Farid Uddin Ahmed also thanked deputy education minister, the government officials concerned, Awami League leaders and members of law enforcement agencies, media workers who played a responsible role in restoring normalcy on the campus.
The VC also urged all to play their role in restoring the normal academic atmosphere and normal activities on the campus.
On Friday, the SUST agitating students reiterated their demand for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor Farid Uddin at their meeting with Education Minister Dipu Moni.
Dipu Moni hints at reopening of educational institutions soon
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Friday hinted at the possibility of reopening educational institutions following the downtrend of covid cases in the country.
"The positivity rate is decreasing day by day and, hopefully, all the educational institutions will be reopened soon," she said at a view exchange programme with the leaders of Sylhet district and city unit of Awami League at Sylhet Circuit House.
Read: Dipu Moni in Sylhet to diffuse SUST crisis
Meanwhile, the minister said the government is making every effort to solve the problems of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST). "In this case, students have rights as well as responsibilities. All problems can be solved through discussion."
She added that issues like SUST's occur in almost all public universities.
The education minister also remarked that initiatives are being taken to solve the problems of all public universities through national initiatives.
Read: Dipu Moni to visit SUST Friday as protests resume
Apart from Dipu Moni, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmed are slated to hold meetings with the students, teachers and different SUST organisations between 4pm and 7pm.
Earlier, a three-member ministerial team, led by Education Minister Dipu Moni, arrived in Sylhet Friday morning to hold talks with the protesting students of SUST.
Decision on educational institutions after meeting with NTAC: Dipu Moni
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Saturday said the decision on how to deal with educational institutions amid the Covid-19 surge will be taken after the ministry’s meeting with the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 on Sunday.
The government formed the 17-member national technical advisory committee with independent experts and government representatives in April, 2020 to recommend measures to tackle the pandemic in the country.
“The government, however, doesn’t want to shut the educational institutions now,” she said while talking to reporters after attending the silver jubilee programme of Dhaka Imperial College.
Students should acquire skill in technology to face future challenges: Dipu
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Wednesday urged the students to be skilled in technology to meet the challenges of the coming days. “Technology has both good and bad sides and we should be technology friendly and skilled following the demand of the future. We have to make our students acquainted with technology,” she said.
Read: Secondary school admissions: Lottery system for all classes, says Dipu Moni Dipu was talking to reporters after attending the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected union parishad members. Mentioning that the academic activities have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, she said the government has a plan to recoup the losses caused by the pandemic in the education sector.
SSC, HSC’s 2022 exams likely in mid-year: Dipu Moni
The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations of 2022 are expected to be held in the middle of the year, said Education Minister Dipu Moni.
“As we have been successful in tackling Covid, next year's SSC and HSC exams will not be delayed that much. Those might be held in the middle of the next year,” she said.
The minister made the remark while talking to reporters after inspecting an HSC examination centre at Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College on Thursday morning.
Read: HSC exams begin in Bangladesh
Dipu Moni said there is no chance of question paper leak in the HSC examinations this year.
SSC exams: Coaching centres to remain shut from Nov 8 to 25
All coaching centres across the country will remain shut from November 8 to 25 ahead of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Wednesday.
SSC and equivalent examinations for the academic session 2020-21 will begin on November 14, Dipu Moni said at a press briefing at the secretariat.
This year the SSC and the HSC examinations could not be held as per schedules due to the Covid-19 pandemic and then the government decided to hold the examinations with shortened syllabuses.
Read:SSC exams to begin on Nov 14, HSC on Dec 2
The examinations will be held with short syllabuses on three elective subjects on a group basis.
According to the schedule, the SSC and its equivalent examinations will end on November 23.
Some 22,27,113 students are expected to take the SSC and equivalent exams this session while last year this number was 20,46,779. The number of candidates has increased by 1,79,334 with a growth rate of 8.76 per cent.
About 18,00,998 candidates will sit for the SSC exam under nine general education boards, 3,01,887 for Dakhil exams under Madrasa Education Board and 1,24,228 for vocational exam under Bangladesh Technical Education Board this year, the minister said.
Besides, 429 students will take part in the examination from abroad. Some 3,679 centers are set to sit for the SSC exam across the country.
SSC exams to begin on Nov 14, HSC on Dec 2
The much-awaited Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and their equivalent examinations will begin on November 14 and December 2 respectively, maintaining health protocols.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education unveiled the schedules for the two public examinations on Monday.
This year, the two public examinations could not be held as per schedules due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the government decided to hold the examinations with shortened syllabuses.
Read:SSC, HSC exams either in Nov or Dec next: Education Minister
The examinations will be held with short syllabuses on three elective subjects on group basis, and 24 assignments will be given for SSC students while 30 assignments for HSC students before the examinations, Education Minister Dipu Moni said in July.
No assignment will be given on Bangla, English and other compulsory subjects and the 4th subjects, she said.
According to the exam schedules, the SSC and its equivalent examinations will end on November 23 while that of HSC on December 30.
Read: Scientific evidence to guide decision on SSC, HSC exams: Dipu Moni
New curricula in schools, colleges from 2023: Dipu Moni
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Monday said the government has decided to introduce new curricula in schools and colleges from 2023, removing the divisions of science, arts and commerce up to class X.
“Piloting of the new curricula in class one at primary level and class VI in secondary education level will begin next year,” she said.
The Education Minister revealed this information at a press briefing on the National Curricula Framework presentation at the Secretariat.
According to the new curricula, there will be no science, arts and commerce sections up to class X, and they will be trained on technical subjects.
Read:World-class higher education necessary to build progressive future generation: Dipu Moni
“The new curricula couldn’t be introduced in 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic. Now we’ll introduce it in 2023 and the new curricula will be introduced in all classes by 2025,” she said.
The government has selected 10 common subjects for all students up to SSC level and students will be allowed to choose optional subjects in class XI and class XII,” the minister said.
“There’ll be a piloting of new curricula in 100 educational institutions of primary and secondary schools. The new curricula will be introduced for class one and class two while for class VI and class VII in secondary level in 2023. It’ll will be introduced for the students of class III, IV, VIII, IX in 2024 while for class V and class X in 2025,” said Dipu.
Read: No room to defy Covid norms at schools, colleges: Dipu Moni
Besides, three public examinations will be held under the new system. The class X students will sit for Secondary School Certificate(SSC) examinations, while the students will sit for two more public exams in class XI and class XII and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations results will be published based on the results of class XI and class XII.
But, there will be no examination up to class III, the minister said.
“The national curricula have been introduced from pre-primary level to class XII. Earlier, the primary and secondary level education was complexly separate. The aim of introducing the new curricula is to make a smooth journey for students from one level to another level and help them to cope up with the new level easily. We’re just trying to see the students not facing any problem at the new level,” she added.
Steps have been taken so that students can learn most of their lessons in their classrooms, said the Minister.