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COVID-19: Education during the Pandemic in Bangladesh

Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

All educational institutions in Bangladesh have been closed for about four months due to the outbreak of coronavirus. The mid-term examinations in the schools have passed but no definite decision has been taken so far.

In such a situation, parents are worried about their children's educational activities.

The school of two sons of Eva Rosario, a resident of Chittagong, has been closed since March 16. He is worried about whether the school will reopen after August 8, or whether his sons will be able to go to the next class again as there have been no classes for a long time.

In such a situation, Mrs. Rosario called on the government to take a final decision quickly.

"We have no idea when the school will open when the exams will take place, how we will take them. Let the government give us a decision so that we can make the children according to the rules. Otherwise, it will be too late. The children will be in tension."

Earlier, the issue of passing all the students to the next class with the promotion came to the fore, but there will be no opportunity for proper evaluation of merit, said the education officials.

They say that mass promotion is very complicated as the assessment system is the same in each category.

In a video message last month, Education Minister Dipu Moni said the current academic year could be extended to next March. At the same time, it is being considered to reduce the next academic year to nine months. However, no final decision has been taken so far.

Considering the overall situation, the Ministry of Education and the concerned departments are trying to end the academic year within this year.

However, considering the coronavirus situation, if the leave is extended, the extension of this academic year to March is also being discussed, said Ziaul Haque, convener of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee.

Decision making will focus on two things, firstly, to ensure the safety of the students and secondly, not to compromise on the aspect of merit assessment.

However, it was not immediately clear when the decision would be made.

If the current academic year is extended, the final examination will be held in February or March next year as it was done in November-December.

On the other hand, it is being considered to reduce the next academic year from 12 months to 9 months. Note that 140 days are taught in an academic year. The rest is a holiday.

Therefore, in order to take the final examination of the next academic year in December, the syllabus may be reduced and the optional leave may be canceled, said the education officials.

Whatever the decision, Rasheda K, director of the Mass Literacy Campaign and a former education adviser, insisted on finalizing the time and formulating a comprehensive and specific policy. Chowdhury.

She said, "Even if it is late, we have to think of an alternative solution. We have to invest in reviving educational activities. Examples can be taken from different countries. But the main goal is not to put teachers, students or educational institutions at risk."

According to her, the outbreak of coronavirus has caused damage in three areas. First of all, the education calendar has become random. It has to be brought under one management.

Second, students need to come to a joint decision on the assessment process, i.e. how the test will be taken.

In this case, she suggested compressing the syllabus and taking tests on several subjects at once.

She stressed on coming to a decision with the help of education officials, teachers and parents.

Finally, Mrs. Chowdhury said that the issue of what kind of management will ensure the safety of the students when the school opens will be included in the policy.

Although various plans and discussions are underway to make up for the loss in the education sector, it is yet to be said when the final decision will be reached.

However, education officials are of the opinion that the final decision may be announced by September.

At present, it is not possible to reach the doorsteps of 100% students even though the classes are running on Sangsad TV along with the online classes, the education officials said. In the meanwhile, it is not possible in the flood-affected areas under any circumstances.

So the emphasis is on how to bring school activities under one discipline.

Meanwhile, if the situation in Corona is favorable, the Education Minister also said that he plans to take the HSC exam 15 days later. Dipu Moni. Students have to give notice in these 15 days.

He also said that he is thinking of taking fewer tests in less time.

It is to be noted that HSC and equivalent examinations were scheduled to start on April 1, but it was postponed due to coronavirus infection. Since then, all educational institutions in the country have been closed.

Source: BBC Bangla

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