Schools, colleges not reopening on 13 June

Educational institutions are not reopening on 13 June as the government extends the ongoing restriction to curb Covid-19 infection in the country.

Deputy education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury told Prothom Alo on Sunday that the educational institutions cannot be reopened since the government extends the restrictions till 16 June.

The decision on reopening of school and colleges would be taken later, he added.

Education minister Dipu Moni on 26 May expressed hope that educational institutions up to higher secondary level would reopen on 13 June provided the Covid-19 situation becomes favourable.

The Covid-19 cases and deaths have surged again in the country. Moreover, spreading of Indian variant of the virus in bordering districts has created fresh apprehension.

All the educational institutes of the country have been shut since 17 March last year. The closure was extended multiple times since then. Educationists voiced concerned over the loss incurred by the closure and urged the authorities to take longterm plan to make up for the loss of students.

The education ministry plans to hold SSC and HSC examinations for this year and the next year on a curtailed curriculum. Two separate short curriculums have been prepared to this end.

Initially after the reopening, SSC and HSC examinees of this year and the next year would attend class six days in a week and students of other classes would attend a class a week. Academic activities would resume fully by turns.