The education ministry on Wednesday is likely to announce its decision on the Higher Secondary Certificate and its equivalent examinations and the reopening of educational institutions delayed by coronavirus pandemic.
Education Minister Dipu Moni address a press conference on the matter on Wednesday, ministry spokesperson Mohammad Abul Khair told Bangladesh Post.
Prior to briefing the media, the minister will exchange views with the journalists to know the opinions of students and their guardians who have long been worried due to the persisting situation, he added.
Schools across Bangladesh have remained closed since late Mach with the government extending the holidays until October 3 in phase while the HSC and equivalent examinations, scheduled to begin on April 1, have been put on hold due to the pandemic.
Abul Khair said, “There are lot of questions on the HSC exams and schools reopening. As the year nears an end, students and parents are worried.
“Concerns also arose whether annual examinations in different classes would be held,” added Abul Khair, who is a Public Relations Officer at the education ministry.
Meanwhile, health experts warned that virus situations can worsen, if educational institutions, mainly primary schools, reopen without strict enforcement of health rules.
Referring to the USA, they said 97,000 more children contracted the deadly virus in two weeks after schools reopen prompting the authorities to close the schools again.
Whereas educational institutions in Bangladesh are less equipped with infrastructural and safety facilities than that of the USA’s schools, they argued.
Health expert Dr Lelin Chowdhury told Bangladesh Post, “Decision must be taken in consultation with the experts to reopen the educational institution again.”
“A countrywide survey on Covid-19 should be conducted before reopening schools otherwise taking such a decision can be disastrous,” he said.
“Children are more likely to spread the virus than adults because kids hardly care about the hygiene rules. It is not realistic to think that a large number of students in a school will follow hygiene rules,” said Dr Lelin, who is the founder of Health and Hope Hospital in Dhaka.
Professor Fouzia Rezwan, principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, said, “No one knows when the Covid-19 situation will be under control. The authorities concerned have taken no initiative on health safety measures so far to bring back the children to the classroom.”
“The infrastructure and environment of most of the educational institutions, especially primary schools, is not favourable to maintain hygiene rules,” she added.
