educational institutions
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.
HSC exams: 5 institutions witness 0% pass rate
No student from five educational institutions came out successful in this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations while all students of 1,934 educational institutions passed the exams.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday published the results of HSC and equivalent examinations 2021, joining a function at International Mother Language Institute virtually from her official residence Gonobhaban.
Among the educational institutions where all have passed, 736 are under nine General Education Boards while 1,003 under Madrasa Education Board and 195 under Technical and Vocational Education Board.
Read: 95.26% pass HSC, equivalent examinations
Besides, all five institutions where 100 per cent of the examinees have failed are under nine general education boards.
This year, the average pass rate in HSC and equivalent examinations is 95.26%. A total of 13,06,718 examinees, out of 13,71,681, came out successful in the examinations in all the 11 education boards of the country.
On the other hand, the average pass rate in HSC examination is 95.57% in nine general education boards.
A total of 1,89,169 students secured the highest grade GPA 5. Among them, 1,78,522 examinees got GPA 5 under the nine General Education Boards, 4,872 under Madrasa Education Board and 5,775 under Technical and Vocational Education Board.
Read: PM publishes HSC, equivalent exam results
A total of 14,03,244 candidates took part in the HSC and equivalent exams from 9,183 educational institutions under 11 education boards in the country.
The HSC and equivalent exams were held on December 02-30 last year with shortened syllabus.
Educational institutions may be reopened at Feb-end: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the country’s educational institutions would be reopened at the end of the current month if the Coronavirus situation improves.
“We hope that the situation may change [improve] at the end of this month and then we can reopen schools, colleges and all other educational institutions,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while publishing the results of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations 2021
Sheikh Hasina published the results, joining a function at International Mother Language Institute virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Hasina said though online education was conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, students were deprived of enjoying the classroom learning and company of their peers and friends at their institutions. “Our students are the worst victims of the Coronavirus fallout,” she said.
Also read: Educational institutions to remain shut until May 30
The Prime Minister said the Covid-19 vaccination programme continues so that the educational institutions can be reopened.
She said the government has taken measures to bring the people of all levels and stages under the vaccination coverage.
Noting that there is reluctance among people about getting vaccinated, Hasina asked all to take the vaccine shots to protect themselves from the dire consequences of Coronavirus.
Hasina hoped that Bangladesh would be able to tackle the Omicron variant of coronavirus soon.
Hasina said her government is giving the utmost importance to technical and vocational education and setting up technical school in every upazila across the country.
“Our students are very meritorious. If we can give them proper education, they'll be able to grab the job opportunities to be created at home and abroad following the fourth industrial revolution (4IR),” she said.
Also read: General holidays extended till May 30
Hasina said students will need job-oriented education as only the traditional academic degrees are not enough in the era of the 4th IR.
The Prime Minister said she has always given importance to science and technology education since assuming power in 1996.
In order to ensure multidimensional education, she said her government is now establishing university in every district, and setting up different types of universities, including science and technology, agricultural, medical, textile, maritime, airspace and aviation ones in both public and private sectors.
She said the government is setting up multidimensional higher educational institutions in order to create scopes for the country’s students to flourish their merits, imparting them with time-befitting knowledge and ensuring their jobs.
Hasina also stressed the need for strengthening research activities in different sectors with utmost importance on science and medical science research.
“We’ll have to give importance not only to education, but also to research always. We’ve gained significant success in agricultural research. But we still have to give further importance to science and medical science,” she said.
Since her government focused research, today Bangladesh is self-reliant in food production and can grow vegetables throughout the year, said the Prime Minister.
Due to research, Bangladesh has been able to fulfill the domestic food demand but also ensure the arrangements for meeting the nutrition demand of people, she said.
The Prime Minister extended her sincere thanks to the Education Ministry and all the education boards for releasing the results within 44 days after the HSC and equivalent examinations even amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni received the results of HSC and equivalent exams-2021 and related statistics from the chairmen of all the education boards.
At the function, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhoury delivered the welcome speech, while Secondary and Higher Education Secretary Md Abu Bakr Siddique and Technical and Madarash education Secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan presented data and statistics over the HSC and equivalent exams and candidates.
Educational institutions to be reopened after Feb 21: Health Minister
All the educational institutions of the country will be reopened after February 21 as the Covid-19 cases keep falling gradually, Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday said.
"The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has no objection to reopening physical classes, but we would suggest the educational institutions to be reopened in compliance with health-safety rules," he said in a views-exchange meeting with district health officials at Gorpara Shuvro Centre in sadar upazila at noon.
The minister advised all the students of schools and colleges who have not yet been vaccinated to do so as soon as possible.
Also read: Dipu Moni hints at reopening of educational institutions soon
"Eighty-five per cent of our target population has been vaccinated so far. So, the risk of infection and death is much lower now," he said.
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.
Covid surge in Bangladesh: All educational institutions to remain shut till Feb 6
All the schools, colleges and universities of the country will remain closed from January 21 to February 6 in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, said a government announcement on Friday.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard in the morning imposing restrictions on the overall activities and movement of people in the country amid a worrying spike in Covid-19 cases.
As the situation keeps worsening, the government has also prohibited the gathering of 100 people for any political, social or religious programmes. Those who will attend such programmes will need to have Covid-19 vaccine certificates and RT-PCR test conducted, says the notification.
It says all the government, non-government offices and factories have been asked to make sure that all the staff and officers carrying Covid-19 vaccine cards.
The notification asked all to wear masks and maintain health rules at public places like markets, shopping malls, mosques, bus stands, launch terminals, railway stations. The local administration and law enforcement agencies have been instructed to monitor and ensure compliance.
READ: Writ seeks 30-day closure of educational institutions as pandemic surges
Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported 10,888 fresh cases with four deaths in 24 hours till Thursday morning marking a sharp rise in its infection rate.
The positivity rate in the country further increased to 26.37 per cent from Wednesday’s 25.11 per cent after testing 40,898 samples, according to the Directorate general of health Services (DGHS).
READ: Classes to go online if Covid spreads to educational institutions: Minister
Bangladesh last logged 10,420 cases and 237 deaths on August 11, last year with a positivity rate of 23.45 per cent in 24 hours.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,180 while the caseload mounted to 1,653,182 on Thursday.
Writ seeks 30-day closure of educational institutions as pandemic surges
A writ petition seeking a 30-day closure of educational institutions due to renewed Covid-19 surge has been filed before the High Court. The writ was filed on Wednesday by Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akond.
Read:Classes to go online if Covid spreads to educational institutions: Minister “When the pandemic started in the country, the government directed to shut the education institutions and the students were less infected. Currently the covid-19 situation is on the spike and the students of schools, madrashas, colleges and universities are going to their institutions,” he said in the writ petition. “Many students use public transport to go to school and they might have been infected with the virus. As a result, there is a possibility of infecting other family members. So the educational institutions should be closed for 30 days,” said the writ. The writ will likely be heard by the bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice SM Maniruzzaman on Thursday. On March 15, 2020, a writ was filed in this regard. The writ also sought directives to take steps in identifying those infected with Covid-19 in all ports including land and airports and strengthening monitoring in all land ports.
Read: JU suspends in-person classes It also sought directives to shut the educational institutions and issued an interim order to take necessary steps in all ports and entrance of the country to fight of Covid-19. Cabinet secretary, health secretary, education secretary, civil aviation and tourism secretary, home secretary and directorate general of health services were made respondents to the writ.
Classes to go online if Covid spreads to educational institutions: Minister
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday said classes will be held online if the Omicron variant spreads to educational institutions.
“The situation to shut all the educational institutions has not been created yet in the country,” she said while talking to reporters after attending the DCs’ Conference 2022 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
READ: Don’t pay heed to rumours over closure of educational institutions: Ministry
“Students will join online classes from home if Omicron spreads in educational institutions. Until then, there’s no plan to shut in-person classes,” Dipu Moni added.
She said some of the university students have contracted the Omicron variant of Covid-19 but they are staying isolated and no one of them is seriously ill.
The education minister said the information was confirmed by public university VCs during a meeting held on Tuesday.
She said now priority is being given to vaccinating students, aged between 12 to 17 years. “Until Monday, 86 lakh students have been brought under the Covid vaccination campaign”, she said.
Educational institutions are being monitored on a regular basis and a meeting will be arranged with the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 on the overall situation in a day or two, said Dipu Moni.
READ: Decision on educational institutions after meeting with NTAC: Dipu Moni
After a long closure due to the pandemic, the students of schools and colleges 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.
No plan yet to shut educational institutions: Health Minister
The government has no plan right now to shut educational institutions even though Covid-19 cases keep rising across the world, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque.
“Covid infections are on the rise in many countries but it is still under control in Bangladesh. The educational institutions are here and the government has no plan to close those now,” he said.
The Health Minister came up with the information while talking to reporters at a programme on distributing blankets among destitute people in Manikganj on Saturday.
The government has decided to operate public transport, including buses and trains at half of their capacities to contain the spread of Covid-19, he said adding, “The directives will come soon to enforce the decision.”
READ: New restrictions soon to fight off Covid: Health Minister
The government has taken some steps to stem the Covid-19 and the hospitals, nurses and physicians in the districts and upazilas have been kept ready to provide medical services, said Maleque.
Besides, the government decided to close shops and markets by 8 pm and not to allow unvaccinated people to take food at restaurants, he said.
Issuing a note of warning that people will be fined through mobile courts if found without masks, the minister said, “As the Covid-19 situation in the country is under control, the wheels of the economy are still moving and the production activities in factories are seen as normal. The students are able to attend their classes.”
SSC results on Thursday: Education Minister
The results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will be published on Thursday, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday. “The results of the SSC and its equivalent examinations will be published on December 30 from Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to join the event virtually,” she said while talking to reporters after attending a programme at the National Academy for Educational Management (Naem).
Read: SSC, HSC’s 2022 exams likely in mid-year: Dipu Moni Dipu Moni said she would announce the details of the results on that day.