educational institutions
Educational institutions to remain closed until July 31, says govt
The government has again extended the ongoing closure of all the educational institutions of Bangladesh until July 31 as the coronavirus situation keeps worsening in the country.
The decision has been taken considering the overall Covid-19 situation, imposition of lockdown and safety of teachers, students and staff, Mohammad Abul Khayer, public relations officer of the Education Ministry, told UNB on Tuesday.
Read:Rajshahi hospital sees record 25 Covid deaths in single day
On May 26, the government had decided to reopen the educational institutions, particularly primary, secondary and higher secondary ones, in the country on June 13 depending on the Covid situation. But the situation keeps worsening in the country, particularly in bordering districts.
The decision has been taken as per the directives of the National Technical Advisory Committee formed to fight Covid-19 in the country and it will remain applicable for Ebtedayee and Qawmi madrasas, too.
On March 16 last year, the government closed all the educational institutions to prevent the spread of coronavirus. No classes have been held since then.
Then the closure was extended several times, most recently until June 30, 2021.
Read:Covid-19: Bangladesh sees record 8,364 daily cases; loses 104 more lives
Dhaka Board to begin HSC registration from June 29
The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka on Friday directed students to complete their registration by July 11 for this year’s Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) exam amid a worrying surge in Covid-19 cases across the country.
The form fill-up process will stay open from June 29 to July 11, according to a notice issued by the board on Friday.
Also read: HSC, SSC exams to be held on brief syllabuses: Dipu Moni
The notice also instructed colleges not to hold eligibility tests this year and also asked the institutions concerned not to collect any fees for that purpose.
Educational institutions across the country have remained shut since March last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
HSC examinees were evaluated on the basis of their results in JSC and SSC exams last year, a decision which received a mixed reaction.
Also read: Strict nationwide lockdown in Bangladesh from Monday as Covid situation worsens
Recently on June 13, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said that her ministry is making preparations to take SSC and HSC examinations this year with a shortened syllabus.
However, the minister also said that the ministry is also considering alternative options in case the covid situation worsens in the country.
Read WB approves $191mn credit for Bangladesh’s education sector
Bangladesh extends closure of educational institutions until June 30
The government has extended the ongoing closure of all the educational institutions of Bangladesh until June 30 considering the worsening coronavirus situation in the country.
The decision has been taken considering the safety of teachers, students and staff and imposition of lockdowns in different districts, Mohammad Abul Khayer, public relations officer of the Education Ministry, told UNB on Saturday.
Earlier on May 26, the government had decided to reopen the educational institutions, particularly primary, secondary and higher secondary ones, in the country on June 13 depending on the Covid situation. But the situation keeps worsening in the country, particularly in bordering districts.
Also read: Pros and Cons of Reopening Educational Institutions during Pandemic
Abul Khayer, however, said the online classes will continue as before.
The decision has been taken as per the directives of the National Technical Advisory Committee formed to fight Covid-19 in the country and it will remain applicable for Ebtedayee and Qawmi madrasas, too.
Schools, colleges to reopen on June 13: Dipu Moni
The government has decided to reopen educational institutions, particularly primary, secondary and higher secondary ones, in Bangladesh on June 13 if the Covid-19 situation does not deteriorate.
“We’ve decided to reopen all the educational institutions -- primary, secondary and higher secondary ones -- on June 13. We expect the situation to be much more favourable by the time,” said Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni at a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
About reopening universities, the Education Minister said the decision will be taken in consultation with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the university authorities.
Read: Educational institutions must abide by constitution, law: HC
The minister, however, said reopening of public universities depends on vaccination among their resident students, teachers and staff.
“The reopening of universities may slightly depend on vaccination,” she said, adding that the government will soon start vaccination among resident students, teachers, officers and employees of universities on a priority basis.
Initially, the institutions will remain open for six days a week for the class-V students as well as SSC and HSC candidates of 2021 and 2022, while for one day for the students of other classes. The number of classroom lectures will increase gradually for the students of other classes, she said.
The government has already taken preparations so that the SSC and HSC examinees for 2021 can sit for their examinations attending the classes for 60 days and 84 days respectively. And their syllabuses were shortened accordingly. The examinations will begin at least two weeks after the classes, the minister added.
Read Schools, colleges likely to remain closed until Eid: Dipu
The periods for in-person classes will be 150 days and 180 days for SSC and HSC candidates of 2022. The syllabuses for the examinees of 2022 have also been shortened.
Dipu Moni urged all to follow the health guidelines and thus help the government create a favourable environment for reopening the educational institutions.
“On one hand, we ask for reopening educational institutions and increase the (Covid-19) infection rate on the other hand by not following the health guidelines. These two things can't go together,” she said.
The minister said the online and television-based teaching and assignment-based academic activity are going on amid the ongoing closure of educational institutions.
Read Japan's role key to Bangladesh's further development: Dipu Moni
She said the Covid-19 infection rate has risen slightly due to the recent mass exodus during the Eid holidays.
“The infection rate has risen suddenly in some districts. Keeping such issues in mind, we’re extending the closure of our educational institutions until June 12. We hope the situation will improve by the time, and then we can reopen the institutions,” she said.
The minister, however, said the government will reopen the educational institutions on the basis of adequate data and favourable opinions.
She said the government takes its decision following discussions with the National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19. “We’ll take the decision (on reopening the educational institutions) based on discussions with them this time, too,” she added.
Read: Assess situation before reopening educational institutions: PM
According to expert views, if the Covid-19 infection rate remains within 5 percent, it will create a favourable situation to reopen educational institutions, Dipu Moni added.
In reply to a question about the JSC examinations, the minister said if the situation remains conducive, the government will hold examinations, or else, those would be assignment-based ones.
She said the government has collected data of the dropped-out students and now those are being analysed. “So, we’ll soon get a complete report on it (dropout),” she added.
Replying to another question, Dr Dipu Moni said there is a slim chance to give auto-pass to the SSC and HSC candidates of 2021 unlike the HSC candidates of 2020.
Read Students protest, demand re-opening of their institutions
She said the HSC candidates of 2020 had joined the classes for full two years, sat for pre-tests and taken all-out preparations for the examinations, but the exams were postponed just a few days ago.
This time, she said, the SSC and HSC candidates could not attend their normal classes throughout last year. “So, the scope to give them an auto-pass is very thin.”
Speaking at the press conference, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain said the primary schools will also be reopened on June 13 next. “It won’t be a bad decision if we reopen the schools making sure that health rules are followed,” he said.
Initially, the schools will remain open for six days a week for the class-V students, while one day for class-I to class-IV students, said the state minister.
The government shut the educational institutions on March 17, 2020 after the country reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8. Then the closure was extended several times, most recently until May 29, 2021.
Read:Bangladesh braces for worst Covid outbreak by June-end: Experts
Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh witnessed a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases and fatalities as it recorded 40 more deaths and 1,675 cases in 24 hours until Tuesday morning.
The Covid positivity rate rose to 10.08 percent again during the period after remaining below 10 percent since May 15. The country had been seeing below 40 deaths since May 13.
Health authorities registered 1,675 new cases after testing 16,624 samples during the 24-hour period.
Besides, the mortality rate remained static at 1.57 percent, said a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read Prof Mahmood Hossain new Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University
Closure of schools, colleges extended until May 29
The government has again extended the closure of secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions until May 29 due to the recent spike in Covid-19 infections.
The decision was taken considering the safety of students, teachers and staffers after consultation with the National Advisory Committee on Covid-19, said an official release signed by M A Khair, public relations officer of the Education Ministry.
During the closure online classes will continue, it said.
Earlier, the government decided to reopen schools and colleges on May 23 and the Education Ministry issued a notice in this regard.
Also read: Covid-19: Ongoing lockdown to be extended until May 23
The government shut educational institutions on March 17 last year after the country reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8.
The closure was extended several times, most recently until May 23 this year.
On February 22 the education minister announced that university classes would resume on May 24.
Residential halls were scheduled to be reopened on May 17.
Also read: Schools, colleges to reopen on May 23
Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh
Covid-19 claimed 22 more lives in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours until Saturday morning which is the lowest daily deaths in nearly two months.
The country saw 26 Covid deaths on Friday and 31 on Thursday.
With the latest deaths logged today, the official Covid-related death count in the country reached 12,124.
However, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.55%, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: Covid-19: 22 more lives lost, lowest daily deaths in 7 weeks
The country witnessed a sharp drop in the number of new cases as the tests have declined dramatically.
Only 261 infections were logged in the last 24 hours after examining 3,758 samples during the period.
The number of daily cases has been decreasing since the beginning of May, falling below 2,000.
PM provides Tk 74.81 cr for non-MPO teachers, employees
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday provided Tk 74.81 crore for 1,67,225 non-MPO teachers and employees of the country as they have been passing days in miseries to the pandemic that led to the closure of educational institutions for a long time.
According to a media release issued by the PMO Press Wing, there are 105,785 teachers and employees in general education while the number is 61,440 in madrasah and Ebtadayee Madrasah and vocational education.
Sheikh Hasina provided Tk 46.63 crore in favour of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Division while Tk 28.18 crore in favour of Vocational and Madrasah Education Division.
Also read: PM provides Tk 122 cr assistance for mosques
The release said that each teacher will get Tk 5,000 while the employees will get Tk 2,500 each.
On May 2, the Prime Minister provided cash support of Tk 2,500 to each 36.5 lakh low-income families engaged in different occupations so that they can survive in this tough time.
Each family directly received Tk 2,500 through G2P (Government-to-Person) as the cash will be sent through mobile financial services (MFS) – Nagad, bKash, Rocket and SureCash.
Also read: PM provides financial assistance to 6,959 Qawmi madrasas
More than Tk 1,500 crore has already been allocated to ease the sufferings of the marginalised people during the second wave of coronavirus.
Soon after the second wave of coronavirus came in sight, the Prime Minister instantly directed the authorities concerned to start the activities of humanitarian assistance.
Since the Covid-19 lockdown was enforced from April 14 last, marginalised people like temporary workless people, destitute, day-labourers, rickshaw- and van-pullers, transport workers, the third gender and beggars in urban and rural areas.
Also read: PM provides financial assistance to 8 organisations
As per the PM’s directive, the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry instantly sent Tk 590 crore to the field-level administration to provide support to the needy people and the disbursement of the money continues.
Besides, the Prime Minister allocated Tk 10.5 crore against deputy commissioners from her relief and welfare fund to provide emergency assistance to the poor and destitute.
The Prime Minister has also provided Tk 10 crore to the Journalist Welfare Trust as assistance for the journalists who are facing hardship due to the fallout of the pandemic.
Educational institutions must abide by constitution, law: HC
The High Court on Sunday expressed concern over the torture of a madrasa student and ordered all educational institutions to follow the constitution and laws of the country.
Covid-19: Educational institutions reopening may be delayed
A recent upward trend in daily coronavirus infection rate could force the government to keep educational institutions shut longer than expected.
Thousands of students throng cyber cafes to apply for stipends in Panchagarh
Thousands of students thronged cyber cafes in Panchagarh to apply for stipends by the stipulated time and waited for hours but most of them could not complete the online registration on Sunday.