The education authorities have issued some guidelines as part of preparations to reopen in phases educational institutions which have remained closed since 18 March last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The teachers of primary schools have been instructed to return to their work places. Besides, the Directorate of Primary Education has asked the upazila education officers to inspect the schools under their jurisdictions within a week. Dhaka University has also decided to reopen the student dormitories for the students in phases. These initiatives are due for many days and precautions are needed to reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection as the pandemic has not yet come under control.
The government has given instructions to keep the institutions clean and tidy by taking utmost care to prevent dengue. The primary school authorities were instructed to prepare their wash blocks accordingly. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has claimed that around 80 per cent of students of Dhaka University have been vaccinated. Dhaka University is going to reopen its dormitories for the resident students of master’s and honours final year in the first week of October. The DU Provost Committee has decided to reopen the dormitories for the resident students of the two sessions, who will sit for examinations. The students will be allowed to stay in the dormitories for 15 days during the exams. Later in phases, other honours students will be allowed to stay in dormitories and sit for exams.
The government has made preparations for holding Primary Education Completion Examinations for class-V students and terminal exams for other primary students. But if the Covid-19 situation worsens, the government may cancel the exams as in the previous year and students will be evaluated through assessment of homework. We think the latter plan is convenient considering the present reality. We want to remind the authorities to consider the Covid and the dengue menaces and adjust the plan with the changing situations.
