Reza Mahmud :
In the wake of surge of covid infections across the country, educational institutes are getting closed phase by phase.
Experts expressed frustrations saying that keeping educational institutions on closure for long time would hamper the nation’s backbone seriously.
The government on January 21 announced closure of schools and colleges until February 6.
As per the government’s notification, schools and colleges will be closed from January 21 to February 6 and authorities of universities will take their own decisions about closures.
Experts and guardians of school and college children are anxious as it had been remained closed for about one and a half year for the same reason in the last two educational years.
Prolonged closure of educational institutions starting from March 17, 2020 for one and a half year affected over 40 million students from the pre-primary to the higher education level, which hampered education seriously.
Experts say that the Omicron variant of covid is seriously contagious as World Health Organisation (WHO) marked it as “Variant of Concern”.
In this situation, people of the country think the spreading of Omicron may bring a longtime stalemate in educational systems further.
Sources from education ministry also showed such a sign.
Meanwhile, officials concern from the education ministry also said that the educational institutes would be closed by phases through observing the covid situation.
Director (Secondary School) of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Professor Belal Hossain said that the educational institutes could not remain open until the covid situation improves. He said, as a alternative way, online classes has been started. He said also that assignment activities would be started maintaining hygienic rules.
The Director said also that directives had been sent to field level for preparing assignment work for SSC and HSC candidates of 2022.
The officials said also that educational activities would continue through Television and Radio stations as well online systems.
Meanwhile, sources said, online and other alternative education systems have not been fruitful. A small number of learners in Dhaka and Chittagong only benefited from the system properly.
Sources said, about 60 to 70 pc of students stayed out from the system.
When contacted, Educationist and public health expert Professor Dr. M. Muzaherul Huq, former Advisor of the World Health Organisation told The New Nation on Wednesday, “It will be a devastating decision if the educational institutes remain closed for long.” “Rather they should be kept open by maintaining strict health measures with proper continuous monitoring. The head of the institutes should be made responsible and accountable to monitor that these are properly followed,” the professor said. If the students follow the health measure, it will have an impact in the family as well in the society to practice the preventive measures, he suggested.
