With schools and universities reopening, Education Minister Dipu Moni on Wednesday said she hoped the academic institutions would compensate the students for learning losses caused by the Covid-induced closure. “The students have been going through mental trauma for the past two years. Now with the educational institutions across the country reopening, efforts will be made to make up for the learning losses," she said.  "Though it is not possible to recoup the losses in one academic year, it can be minimised. Better days are ahead,” Dipu Moni told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the book distribution activities of classes XI and XII at National Curricula and Textbook Board (NCTB) headquarters this morning. Read: Primary school students return to campus “In-person classes for primary school students resumed on Wednesday while physical classes at all secondary, higher secondary and university-level educational institutions resumed earlier. We hope we can soon return to normal academic activities,” she said. Dipu Moni also urged the authorities concerned to make up for the teaching losses endured by those who passed this year's HSC, through adequate assignments. Describing the demand of the students of seven DU-affiliated colleges for separate universities as "illogical", she said, "The problem will be resolved soon and the authorities concerned are taking an initiative to reduce the session jam. Exam results will also be published soon.”

In-person classes at primary schools across the country will resume on Wednesday with strict Covid-19  protocols in place. Earlier on February 18, the government decided to resume in-person classes at primary schools from March 1 in view of the declining Covid cases across Bangladesh.  Read: Senior schools, universities reopen after a month In-person classes at all secondary, higher secondary and university-level educational institutions resumed on February 22. On January 21, the government announced that all schools and colleges in Bangladesh will remain closed from January 21 to February 6 amid a renewed surge in Covid-19 cases largely due to the new Omicron variant. The shutdown was extended till 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 the resumption of online classes for schools and colleges. Read: Primary schools to reopen on March 1: Ministry Besides, the vaccination of students, aged between 12 and 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 Offices, Upazila Secondary Education Offices, local administrations and Civil Surgeons. 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.