THE Primary and Mass Education Ministry are hopeful of reopening schools in December if the Coronavirus outbreak abates by that time. Covid-19 situation in the country is not conducive for reopening educational institutions in September, though the Premier earlier assured to reopen in September. In the education sector, there are significant shortage of coordination and integration of decision and action like online class, mobile purchase for university students, data support for school goers etc. Besides, the government said that they were planning to support private educational institutions teachers and staff but no decision and action is taken, despite the private educators are living with income loss. RMG and manufacturer sectors have been awarded different support to cope with the impact of the pandemic, but the education section have not.
Although some countries had opted to reopen schools after the first wave of cases, they were forced to shut them down once again after the Coronavirus situation deteriorated. The pandemic has halted the Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent examinations, which were slated for April 1, while the decision on the Junior School Certificate examinations also remains pending. The Mass Education Ministry sent a proposal to the Prime Minister on August 19, asking that the Primary Education Certificate examinations be held at schools separately rather than centrally.
Most educational institutions in urban areas have been taking classes online after they were closed on March 17 following the detection of the first Coronavirus cases in the country. The government has extended the closure several times to Aug 31 but it has been repeatedly saying that the schools and colleges will reopen only after the Covid-19 situation improves. The total number of infected surged 290,000 with a fatality count of almost 4,000 in the country as of Sunday. UGC is also seen in dilemma instructing the universities regarding class method and other necessary routine work. Many small primary and Kindergarten schools, madrasas, vocational institutions are deprived of the technological support both from the teachers and students end. The hard-earned success in primary school enrolment would be stumbled, while the quality of education is compromised.
