Demand to open educational institution despite spike in Covid-19 absurd: Dipu Moni

Education Minister Dipu Moni told the parliament today the demand to open educational institutions during this high transmission period of Covid-19 pandemic is absurd.

She also said a decision will be taken soon regarding SSC and HSC examinations.

The education minister said this while responding to various cut motion proposals of opposition MPs during the process of passage of the proposed budget for 2021-22 fiscal.

Lawmakers of Jatiya Party, BNP and Gonoforum earlier demanded that the government should reopen all educational institutions to save the education of students. Two Jatiya Party MPs, however, opposed the matter.

The education minister said, it would not be proper to reopen educational institutions until the infection rate drops to 5 percent or less and now the infection rate is about 24 percent. In some districts the infection is 50 percent or more.

She said developed countries of the world had tried to open educational institutions at different times. But they were forced to close again after the infection rate increased.

"I talk to parents at different times," she said. "Although some of them pressed me to open it, many parents told me that they will not send their children to school if it was opened during this time," she added.

Regarding SSC and HSC examinations, the minister said, "We will inform everyone about this very soon. We will tell you everything about what we will do."

The minister said the educational life of students has been disrupted all over the world.

"We will take decisions based on the advice of the National Advisory Committee on Covid-19," she added.