The government is learnt to be considering reopening of educational institutions in phases with universities set to be the first to resume in-person classes amid the Covid-19 pandemic. As a large number of university teachers and students have either been fully vaccinated or will get both doses of Covid-19 vaccine soon, in-person classes will begin in universities first. Colleges and schools will also reopen following universities.
Around 1.79 lakh university students have registered for the vaccine, of whom around 80,000 have received the first dose and 6,000 have gotten both doses. All government school teachers and 2.78 lakh out of 3.63 lakh non-government teachers at the secondary level have been administered both doses. Education Minister Dipu Moni said any decision to reopen educational institutions depends on the coronavirus situation as the safety of students, teachers and guardians is the government’s priority.
On March 17, 2020, the government closed all educational institutions to check the spread of coronavirus. The closure — recently extended till August 31 — has led to the cancellation of exams and left academic calendars in disarray. Following the decision to close educational institutions, the government launched TV education programmes through the state-run Sangsad television channel for secondary and primary students. Later, it asked all schools to introduce online classes.
Most students in urban areas have access to learning through the internet, but the digital divide has so far proved to be a great disadvantage for underprivileged learners, mainly due to a lack of devices and poor access to the internet. The interim efforts were made so that students do not suffer learning losses during the long closure. The education ministry plans to start classes of SSC and HSC examinees of 2021 and 2022 first and their classes may take place two days a week.
Reopening of educational institutions is eagerly awaited by learners. We hope the government will provide aid to all educational institutions to help follow the heath protocols and take immediate steps to curb residential crises in university dormitories.
