Just four months after resuming physical attendance at schools and colleges, the government has once again decided to keep all educational institutions closed for two weeks amid Covid-19 surge. The Cabinet Division, in a notification on Friday, said schools, colleges and equivalent educational institutions will remain closed from January 21 to February 6. However, the authorities of universities would take their own decisions about closures. On September 12 last, schools and colleges in the country had reopened after 18 months of closure due to the emergence of the pandemic.
The fresh closure of educational institutions will bring no positive change in the pandemic situation in the country amid continued violation of health guidelines, said public health experts. They criticised the government decision of closing educational institutions while keeping everything, including public and private offices, open and allowing public gatherings, different fairs and overall daily activities. Widespread violation of health regulations was proof of lack of coordination among the authorities concerned, which, the experts said, failed to enforce the guidelines.
Issuing the gazette notification with a five-point directive, the Cabinet Division prohibited any kind of gathering of over 100 persons to curb the spreads of the pandemic amid a rapid surge in new cases. Government and private company employees must show vaccine certificates at work, it said, adding carrying vaccination certificates has been made mandatory while travelling by bus or attending any gathering. Besides, all must have to carry a negative Covid-19 PCR test report conducted within 24 hours. Many questioned why schools have been closed while the Dhaka Trade Fair (DTF), public gatherings, tourist spots, Bangabandhu Premier League (BPL) and the upcoming Book Fair remain open; a full minister reiterated that vaccine certificates are now mandatory to attend these events. When it can’t ensure just wearing of masks, how it will guarantee that people will carry PCR test report conducted within 24 hours. If one attends another gathering after two to three days he or she will have to conduct another PCR test. Is it humanly possible for the government to check the test report, when it miserably failed to compel people to even wear masks in public places?
Let them make it compulsory for the students and teacher wear masks. It is important that masks should be made available in schools and colleges. We need thinking and competent government.
