The educational institutions will be reopened from June 13 if the situation of Coronavirus pandemic is improved. However, if the situation is not favorable before that time, we won’t put the human health at risk, said Dipu Moni, the Minister for Education.
The educational institutions will be opened only if the infection rate drops below five percent, she added.
She made the remarks at a memorial ceremony for the late Law Minister Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru, organised by ‘Jatiya Protyasha Songothon’ at the National Press Club yesterday.
Citing experts at the time, Dipu Moni said that the rate of Coronavirus transmission has gone up a bit after the Eid journey. Therefore, educational institutions should not be opened until the infection rate falls below 5 percent.
She said that educational institutions will not be opened following any movement. "We are getting many SMS from the parents to keep the educational institutions closed as the parents are concerned about their children's safety. There is pressure from many places and calls for a few movements. However, it does not reflect the views of the wider student community or parents.”
Noting that the government is ready to open the educational institutions as soon as possible, the minister said that the online education system is still in operation amid the closure. Although there are some limitations such as increasing the quality and scope of daily online study, everyone is getting used to it.
At the programme, former Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury was the chief guest while Advocate Kamrul Islam MP, BMA President Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Dhaka Metropolitan South Awami League vice-president Alhaz Advocate Nurul Amin Ruhul and others were present as special guests.
Earlier on May 26, the Education Minister held a virtual press conference to talk about the ongoing holidays of the country's educational institutions and various issues related to education. At that time, a policy decision has been taken to open all secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions in the country from June 13. Subsequently, the following day, Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education directed educational institutions to take necessary and precautionary measures to reopen and conduct educational activities from the scheduled day.
In this context, Zakir Hossain, the Minister of State for Primary and Mass Education said, "We also want to open the primary schools from June 13 in compliance with the secondary and higher secondary education institutions."
