Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 09:35 pm
Reopening of Academic Institutions Dhaka, Bangladesh: The academic institutions including universities, secondary schools and colleges were reopened in Bangladesh on Sunday after more than a month of closure due to violence related to student-led protests which led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Shutdown as Protests Continue Educational institutions across the country have been declared shut until further notice as skirmishes erupted during protests on July 17 over demands to revise the job quota system. It was a pre-emptive move for the protection of students and staff.
Following directives from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, the Ministry of Education, by an order, directed all the institutions that come under its ambit to reopen on Thursday. In a notification signed by Deputy Secretary Mosammat Rahima Akhtar on August 15, all the institutions were asked to reopen and begin academic activities from August 18.
Resumption of Academic Activities Students were seen returning to their schools on Sunday morning. Many of them were accompanied by their guardians. Reopening has caused severe traffic congestion in city areas as Daily Star reports.
Delayed Exams While the classes in government primary schools, except in the 12 city corporations and Narsingdi municipality were initially scheduled to start from August 4, it was deferred. The HSC and equivalent exams, postponed earlier, will commence on September 11, and the exams will be completed by October 23 according to the changed schedule.
Impact on Universities Public universities have remained closed since July 1 when teachers launched a strike to protest the introduction of a new pension scheme. The educational institutions were announced to be open on August 7 following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, but full academic activities are yet to begin because of poor attendance by students.