With the corona infection rate declining and the government-initiated vaccination programme going well, we hope to be able to start classroom education from September 12, education minister Dr. Dipu Moni said this at a press briefing at the end of the inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat on Sunday afternoon.
"Due to the Corona situation, we have been forced to close educational institutions many times in the past," she said. “However, according to experts, this time the rate of Covid-19 infection has decreased by 60 percent only at the end of August, last year also the rate of infection decreased significantly in November-December.”
In addition, vaccination activities are in full swing, and the government has ensured the availability of vaccines everywhere.
Considering all these, it will be possible to start teaching in the classrooms from September 12 at the primary, secondary and higher secondary levels, said the education minister.
What the heads of educational institutions think?
Moazzem Hossain, headmaster Sundarban Secondary School in Munshiganj Union of Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district, said, "In the context of Bangladesh, it may not be possible to fully follow the hygiene rules in educational institutions. It will also largely depend on the student attendance rate. However, we will do our best to abide by the rules given by the government."
Hasibur Rahman, principal of Azimpur Government Girls School and College in the capital said, “Normal education activities are starting in the educational institution after a long time. Students and parents will naturally flock to the institutions.”
“However, since my educational institution is spread over a wide area, it will not be a problem. In addition, everyone in the school must do their best to follow the hygiene rules.”
Both of them told this correspondent that their educational institutions are fully prepared waiting for the return of the students. The little work that is left will be finished in a day.
This correspondent of TheReport.live also visited various schools in the capital this morning to observe the situation and saw that almost all the schools have made the necessary preparations to start physical education activities.
Officials present at the establishments said that last-minute preparations and clearing work were underway. Everyone is hopeful that they will be able to start all the activities from the 12th as per the instructions of the Ministry of Education.
How the educational institutions are ready?
With this announcement of the Minister of Education, after about one and a half year, the students of primary, secondary and higher secondary level are getting the opportunity to return to their classrooms.
According to surveys by various international non-governmental development organizations, Bangladesh ranks second in the world in the list of longest educational institutions shutdown due to coronavirus spreading.
Education Minister in her press briefing said, most of the educational institutions have been prepared for the return of in-person educational activities in the classroom. The places where some work is still going on will also be ready within September 9.
The education minister informed that the field level officials of the government will physically monitor whether all the educational institutions are ready for teaching in the classrooms on the 9th.
Awareness raising activities will continue
Although corona infections have decreased in the country, the spread of the virus has not stopped completely. At different times the government has taken various awareness activities in this situation.
Dr. Dipu Moni said, the awareness activities taken by the government will continue. The students will be involved in education activities in-person after a long time. We will use the press and social media to expand awareness campaign on a wide range of health issues and all other necessary issues.
The education minister also said that wearing a mask is compulsory inside educational institutions. However, teachers should keep an eye on this so that no one gets feels uneasy or falls sick, especially young children.
Work hour for the initial phase
In the context of Bangladesh, a large number of students take part in educational activities in the same classroom. The education minister said a number of decisions have been taken to make it possible to comply with hygiene rules.
He said that initially those who will take SSC and HSC exams this time and those who are next year`s examinees, and those who are PSC examinees will come to their educational institutions every day.
Students in other classes of primary, secondary and higher secondary will first come to the classroom only once a week to study. In addition, students of the same class will be divided into different groups and classes will be conducted if necessary to follow the hygiene rules.
In addition, the teaching time of the students will be reduced from the first day so as not to put too much pressure on the students. If the situation continues to improve, both the day and time of in-person educational activities will be gradually increased, she said.
The first sample of coronavirus was detected in Bangladesh on March 8, 2020. All the educational institutions in the country were shut down after nine days on March 17 to control the transmission rate of coronavirus.
The government had announced that educational institutions will not be opened, putting the lives of children at risk until the coronavirus infection is brought under control. Since then, all the educational institutions in the country have been closed for about a year and a half by increasing the shutdown in stages.
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