No educational institution will reopen unless COVID situation improves: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today reiterated that the government will not allow reopening of educational institutions unless the COVID-19 situation improves -- for the sake of students' and teachers' safety.

"Thinking about the children, we have given time till January 15. If the situation improves within this time then those [schools] will open, otherwise not," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing a programme to inaugurate distribution of around 35 crore textbooks among 4.5 crore students. The programme was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) and the Prime Minister joined it virtually from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

She said that academic activities will continue through digital means.

Sheikh Hasina said that she knows it very well that the children and the students are the worst sufferers due to the COVID-19 as their educational institutions remain shut for a long time.

"No one knows when the world will be free from the coronavirus. When we had taken decision to reopen the educational institutions, the second wave of COVID-19 hit," she said.

"We are handing over the textbooks to ensure the continuation of their academic activities," she said.

In this connection she asked authorities concerned to distribute the books in phases maintaining health guidelines.

The Prime Minister said that today's children are future of the country and they will become the worthy citizens of the country through getting proper education in respective fields.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni and Minister of State for Primary and Mass Education M Zakir Hossen also spoke at the programme.

On January 1, 2021, book distribution will begin at educational institutions across the country.

Following that, new books will be distributed among students of classes 6 to 9 over the next 12 days in phases.