Closure of schools extended to Feb 28
The government has extended the closure of all educational institutions till February 28.
The education and the primary and mass education ministries issued separate statements on extension of the closure yesterday. However, Qawmi madrasas will remain outside the purview of the government's directive.
On March 17 last year, the government closed all schools to contain the spread of coronavirus. The closure led to cancellation of exams, leaving academic calendars in disarray.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education and the Directorate of Primary Education have already asked all colleges, secondary schools and primary schools to prepare for reopening.
While talking about the reopening of educational institutions on January 30, the day the 2020 HSC results were published, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said if everyone follows health guidelines properly, the coronavirus pandemic will come under control and the government will be able to reopen educational institutions very soon. The government will observe the situation in February.
"If a good situation prevails in February, then we'll take steps to reopen educational institutions on a limited scale…we have a plan like that," the PM added.
Candidates of SSC and HSC exams would get priority when in-person classes resume and steps will be taken to bring as many students as possible to classes maintaining social distancing, said a top education ministry official.
PUBLIC EXAMS, SCHOOL ADMISSION CANCELLED
The pandemic led to the cancellation of the Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent exams, originally slated for April 1, 2020.
The government also cancelled Primary Education Completion, Junior School Certificate and their equivalent exams due to the pandemic.
Secondary and primary students were promoted to the next classes this year without any annual examinations.
To avoid health risks amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the government moved to enrol students at schools for all classes for the next academic session on the basis of a lottery.
Because of the pandemic, the government could not hold the Textbook Festival on January 1 when textbooks are handed to primary and secondary students for free.
The authorities also delayed introduction of the new curriculum by a year.
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