Online classes if Covid spreads in educational institutions: Dipu Moni

Although the government is not considering the closure of educational institutions because of the spread of Covid-19 at the moment, online classes may be taken up if the situation deteriorates, said education minister Dipu Moni.

The education minister further said if it is observed that the virus is spreading within the educational institutions and it is not possible to continue with classes, then they will revert to online classes.

She was speaking to newspersons Tuesday afternoon at the Osmani Memorial auditorium after a discussion on the education ministry and the ministry for primary and mass education held at the DC conference there.

Educational institutions reopened last September after remaining shut for almost one and a half years due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, schools do not hold classes regularly as before. The classes are held in a limited scale.

Meanwhile, coronavirus transmissions increase towards the end of last month. The new variant of the virus, Omicron, has also been spreading in the country. Within a month, the number of cases being detected has increased by over five to six per cent.

Over the past 24 hours, 6,677 persons tested positive for coronavirus. The health directorate sees this as an ominous sign. The government has issued an 11-point directive to follow the health guidelines.

At the same time, the education minister said, efforts will be made to keep public life as normal as possible.

In reply to a question, Dipu Moni said they would be holding a meeting this week with the national technical advisory committee on coronavirus to discuss the matter of educational institutions in context of the pandemic .

Various aspects of the education system were discussed at the DC conference.