Education Ministry
Bangladesh extends closure of educational institutions until June 30
The government has extended the ongoing closure of all the educational institutions of Bangladesh until June 30 considering the worsening coronavirus situation in the country.
The decision has been taken considering the safety of teachers, students and staff and imposition of lockdowns in different districts, Mohammad Abul Khayer, public relations officer of the Education Ministry, told UNB on Saturday.
Earlier on May 26, the government had decided to reopen the educational institutions, particularly primary, secondary and higher secondary ones, in the country on June 13 depending on the Covid situation. But the situation keeps worsening in the country, particularly in bordering districts.
Also read: Pros and Cons of Reopening Educational Institutions during Pandemic
Abul Khayer, however, said the online classes will continue as before.
The decision has been taken as per the directives of the National Technical Advisory Committee formed to fight Covid-19 in the country and it will remain applicable for Ebtedayee and Qawmi madrasas, too.
University students to be vaccinated for reopening dorms: UGC
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday decided to vaccinate university students as soon as possible so that their dormitories could be reopened.
The decision was taken at a virtual meeting chaired by Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni. The vice-chancellors of public universities and officials of the Education Ministry and UGC took part in the meeting.
As per the instructions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, all the university students would be vaccinated on priority basis starting with residential ones.
Also read: Bangladesh sees rise in Covid infections; 41 more die
The meeting decided to permit all the public and private universities to conduct online and direct examinations at their respective university campuses.
The academic councils of the respective universities would take the final decisions regarding the online and direct examinations following the UGC instructions.
Also read: Take exams but don’t reopen halls: UGC
Dorms will be reopened making it sure that all the students are vaccinated and the academic activities of the universities are run regularly, said a UGC media release.
The universities were asked to prepare a Recovery Plan according to their capacity and the social reality so that the damage caused to the students during the pandemic could be minimised, the release added.
Prof Imdadul made new VC of JnU
Dr Md Imdadul Hoque, a professor of the Department of Botany of Dhaka University and Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, has been made new vice-chancellor of Jagannath University (JnU).
Read: The contenders to be the next VC of Rajshahi University
The Secondary and Higher Secondary Department of Education Ministry issued a circular in this regard on Tuesday.
The new vice-chancellor will hold the office for the next four years.
Read Dr. Mashiur appointed National University VC
President Abdul Hamid, also Chancellor of the university, may cancel the appointment any time if needed.
The contenders to be the next VC of Rajshahi University
Rajshahi University outgoing vice-chancellor Professor M Abdus Sobhan’s term expired on May 6. Pro-vice-chancellor Professor Ananda Kumar Saha on the same day took charge as acting VC by an order from the Education Ministry.
Everyone is concerned as to who would be the next vice-chancellor of the university. The outgoing VC was criticized for allegations of some corrupt activities, and so teachers and students of the university are expecting that an honest teacher will take charge as the next vice-chancellor.
According to the Rajshahi University Ordinance 11(1) section, the vice-chancellor shall be appointed by the chancellor for a period of four years from a panel of three persons to be nominated by the Senate on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Chancellor and shall be eligible for reappointment for a further period of four years.
Closure of schools, colleges extended until May 29
The government has again extended the closure of secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions until May 29 due to the recent spike in Covid-19 infections.
The decision was taken considering the safety of students, teachers and staffers after consultation with the National Advisory Committee on Covid-19, said an official release signed by M A Khair, public relations officer of the Education Ministry.
During the closure online classes will continue, it said.
Earlier, the government decided to reopen schools and colleges on May 23 and the Education Ministry issued a notice in this regard.
Also read: Covid-19: Ongoing lockdown to be extended until May 23
The government shut educational institutions on March 17 last year after the country reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8.
The closure was extended several times, most recently until May 23 this year.
On February 22 the education minister announced that university classes would resume on May 24.
Residential halls were scheduled to be reopened on May 17.
Also read: Schools, colleges to reopen on May 23
Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh
Covid-19 claimed 22 more lives in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours until Saturday morning which is the lowest daily deaths in nearly two months.
The country saw 26 Covid deaths on Friday and 31 on Thursday.
With the latest deaths logged today, the official Covid-related death count in the country reached 12,124.
However, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.55%, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: Covid-19: 22 more lives lost, lowest daily deaths in 7 weeks
The country witnessed a sharp drop in the number of new cases as the tests have declined dramatically.
Only 261 infections were logged in the last 24 hours after examining 3,758 samples during the period.
The number of daily cases has been decreasing since the beginning of May, falling below 2,000.
Schools, colleges to reopen on May 23
The government has decided to reopen schools and colleges on May 23 due to the recent spike in Coronavirus infections in the country.
The Education Ministry issued a notice in this regard on Thursday.
The decision was taken considering the safety of students, teachers and staffers and during the closure online classes will continue, the notice said.
Classes in all primary, secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions were scheduled to resume on March 30.
Also read: Schools, colleges likely to remain closed until Eid: Dipu
Earlier in the morning Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said the schools and colleges are likely to remain shut until Eid-ul-Fitr vacation if the recent spike in Coronavirus infections continues.
“The closure of primary, secondary and higher secondary level institutions is likely to be extended until Eid-ul-Fitr like the universities if the coronavirus cases continue to rise. A decision in this regard will be taken later after a meeting with National Technical Advisory Committee formed to fight COVID-19,” she said.
The government shut educational institutions on March 17 last year after the country reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8. The closure was extended several times, most recently until late March this year.
On February 22 the education minister announced that university classes would resume on May 24.
Also read: Covid-19: Educational institutions reopening may be delayed
Residential halls were scheduled to be reopened on May 17.
Covid-19 claimed 35 more lives and infected 3,587 others in the past 24 hours till Thursday morning amid an alarming spike in cases over the past few weeks in Bangladesh.
The coronavirus fatalities rose to 8,763 with the latest figure while the new cases pushed the total infections to 580,808, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh records 3-month high 34 deaths; 3,587 fresh cases
With the fresh 3,537 cases, Bangladesh has seen the worst daily increase for the second consecutive day since July 15, 2020.
The free movement of people ignoring the health protocols is believed to be the reason behind the recent upsurge in cases.
Exam postponement: Protests now spread to Rajshahi, Barishal
Rajshahi University students on Thursday staged demonstrations demanding continuation of examinations under its different departments.
Students withdraw blockade after assurance of exam continuation
Students of seven colleges affiliated with the Dhaka University withdrew their protest progamme shortly after the Education Ministry announced on Wednesday afternoon that their ongoing examinations would continue.
Assess situation before reopening educational institutions: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday directed the Education Ministry to review the situation before reopening educational institutions as those remained shut for the last one year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.