The All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) Punjab announced a strike in all educational institutions of the province until the cancellation of the leave encashment notification. AGEGA Punjab has been holding a sit-in outside the Civil Secretariat for the past two days to protest against the proposed privatisation of public schools, amendments to pension regulations, and the cessation of leave encashment. They initiated a protest campaign against the government on Tuesday. A total of 34 organisations representing employees from various Punjab government departments, including health, education, and higher education, along with members of the All Pakistan Clerks Association, are participating in the sit-in. Throughout the day, protesters chanted slogans against the caretaker government and Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The Punjab government has erected barricades outside the Civil Secretariat and deployed police on the Lower Mall. AGEGA Punjab office bearers conducted a meeting outside the Civil Secretariat since no government representative approached them to address their concerns after two days had passed. AGEGA leader Tariq Zaidi told Dawn that the meeting had resulted in the decision to close all educational institutions in protest, with no teachers attending classes. He said that they had previously engaged in a partial strike, but the government had not approached them to address their demands. Zaidi criticised the government for pursuing anti-worker and labor policies, vowing not to permit such actions.

India and the UK on Thursday agreed on mutual recognition of educational qualifications of students from both countries, a move which will cover courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels as well as maritime education, but will exclude professional degrees in engineering, medicine, architecture and pharmacy. India is seeking easier rules for professional courses in the bilateral trade agreement that is being negotiated, commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said. “These agreements will facilitate closer alignment on education between India and the UK, enhance short-term bilateral mobility and ensure mutual recognition of qualifications,” a statement said. The memorandum of understanding will include online courses and facilitate courses which offer students the option to partly study in India and also in the UK, the commerce secretary said.   Besides, it will come handy for those who complete a postgraduate program from the UK, which is for one year. It will now be possible to transfer the credits earned by students. “On a reciprocal basis, Indian Senior Secondary School/Pre-University Certificates will be considered suitable for entry into UK higher education institutions. Similarly, the bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctoral degree of India and the UK will also be considered equivalent to each other,” the statement said. Currently, students who complete a PG course from the UK find it difficult to enrol for a PhD in India, Subrahmanyam said.   Source: The Times of India

Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni has said that weekly holiday for all schools in the country will be increased to two days from the existing one day starting from the year 2023. She delivered the information at a textbook distribution ceremony held at National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) premises in the capital on Saturday. She said, students of all educational institutions including the primary level will get two days leave as weekly holiday starting from 2023. Besides, the students who are being included under the new curriculum will get two days weekly holiday from the current period. According to the concerned sources, though the government service holders enjoy two days as weekly holiday but for the educational institutions it is one day. NCTB made the proposal to increase the holiday. As per the proposal, two days leave as weekly holiday will not harm the educational process. The learning hours will not reduce for the students for their home tasks. The proposal was made maintaining the international educational standard. AH

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni today (Wednesday) said all educational institutions in the country will be opened this month.   She also warned that even if the educational institutions are opened, health guidelines should be followed strictly.   Dr Moni was responding to a question from reporters after the swearing-in-ceremony of the newly elected chairmen at the Chandpur deputy commissioner's office this afternoon.   The education minister said there is a meeting with the national advisory committee tonight. The decision will be taken after reviewing corona situation with the advisory committee and this issue will be discussed with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Although she did not specify   the date for opening the educational institutions, the institutions will be opened this month.   Regarding classroom teaching, the minister said, "We will do our best to take as many classes as possible considering the situation."   Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ananjana Khan Majlis, Superintendent of Police Milon Mahmud, Chandpur Municipality Mayor Zillur Rahman Jewel, Haimchar Upazila Parishad Chairman Nur Hossain Patwari, Faridganj Upazila Parishad Chairman Advocate Jahidul Islam Roman, among others, were present on the occasion. Source: BSS AH

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni has said that the closure of the educational institutions will not be extended further. The Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the award distribution ceremony among the winners of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) International Model Conference in the capital on Saturday. She said the decision in this regard would be taken at a meeting with the advisory expert committee considering the corona virus situation. The educational institutions have been closed since January 21 due to the uptrend of the coronavirus situation. Source: BSS AH

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni today (Sunday) said the government has not yet taken any decision to shut educational institutions.   “The government has not yet taken any decision for the closure of the educational institutions due to a rise in the Covid-19 infection rate,” she said.    The minister was talking to the reporters after attending the inaugural function of the first special basic training course for assistant engineers of the Education Engineering Department (Savar Zone) at the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC) in Savar, the outskirts of the capital.    Education Engineering Department Chief Engineer Arifur Rahman and BPATC Rector Ramendra Nath Biswas were present, among others, on the occasion.    A total of 29 Assistant Education Engineers are participating in the two-month training course.    The minister also urged all to deal with the corona virus in accordance with the health rules.    She said the government will take a pragmatic decision regarding the closure of the educational institutions if the ongoing corona situation worsens.    The vaccination campaign for students across the country is going on in full swing, Dipu Moni said, adding that if the educational institutions are closed now, then the vaccination programme might be hampered.    However, the government is monitoring the overall situation very carefully, she added. Source: BSS AH

School-colleges have been reopened after an interval of 18 months. Now educational institutions across the country including the capital have got its life back. The government on March 17 declared all types of educational institutions closed due to the ongoing pandemic situation caused by the coronavirus. Later different initiatives were taken by the government to reopen the educational institutions but for the increasing coronavirus transmission situation it was not fruitful. The decision about reopening of the schools and colleges was taken at a high level meeting organized at the cabinet division on September 5. After holding the meeting Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni said, the corona transmission rate is on downward trend at the moment. The rate is 70 per cent less comparing to the rate of July. Teaching at the classrooms will resume from September 12 for the primary, secondary and higher secondary educational institutions. At the very first day classes will be held for four to five hours. Then the time will be increased gradually. While attending the classes students and teachers all have to wear face masks. Later, secondary and higher education directorate and primary education directorate imposed different awareness directions including for conducting teaching activities. After the decision of reopening the educational institutions the students who were passing a confined life at home and also the teachers have expressed rejoice and are ready to step into the school premises. In most cases there were festivals of cleansing activities at the school premises. Teachers and officials of the schools and colleges are ready to welcome the students with flowers and chocolate. AH     

Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni has said that if Coronavirus transmission rate increases in the country after reopening of educational institutions then those will be made closed again. She said this at Jamalpur circuit house on Saturday morning. The education minister said, all the educational institutions of the country will be reopened from Sunday. If lessons are given abiding by the health safety guidelines then there is possibility of less virus transmission. If the transmission rate increases then the educational institutions will be declared closed. She said, though teaching in the classrooms was suspended but online teaching was going on. Lessons were being continued through television and online platform. She also requested all not to allow children for going to schools if any student or member of the family is infected with Coronavirus. AH

Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni has delivered ‘good news’ following direction of the Prime Minister to reopen educational institutions of the country after long one and half years of closure. She also said that all types of preparations have been taken in this regard. The minister was speaking as the chief guest in a discussion on the occasion of national mourning day organized by Awami Jubo Mohila League on Wednesday. Dipu Moni said, we are waiting for the favorable situation and hope that we will be able to reopen educational institutions very soon. She said, the honorable Prime Minister has been directing us from the very beginning in this crisis moment on how we would be able to reopen the educational institutions in shortest possible time. ‘The first thing is that we have to ensure the health safety of the students and guardians. Secondly, it has to be guaranteed that their learning is not interrupted. We have to continue the process as long as possible.’ She also said, thirdly, we should be prepared ourselves until the situation favors us and turns it normal when educational institutions are open. The premier has given us directions and we have all types of preparations accordingly. The minister said, you know that currently the coronavirus transmission and death rates are in downward trend. The infection rate is decreasing following the right decision of the government and cooperation from the people. ‘We hope that the transmission rate would come down to our desired stage that means the scientific stage when the situation would allow us to open the educational institutions. We hope that the situation will reach at the desired stage and we want all types of cooperation.’ Dipu Moni hoped that educational institutions can be reopened at the shortest possible time if people follow the health safety protocols. AH  

Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni said, schools-colleges will not be reopened until coronavirus situation turns normal. But we also consider reopening of schools and colleges in September. She said this before the news media at her Minto Road residence on Wednesday. Earlier, at a virtual discussion organized by education beat reporters’ organization on Friday the minister said, nearly all the teachers at government level were vaccinated. At the nongovernment level more than two lakh 78 thousand out of three lakh 63 thousand teachers and employees were brought under vaccination. Besides, 30 thousand out of 34 thousand teachers at the university level were vaccinated. She said, in this stage after 17 months of closure the government is working to reopen the educational institutions in the month of September. According to the education ministry sources, there is necessity to reopen the educational institutions keeping it in mind about the condition of SSC and HSC examinees. According to the government announcement these two public examinations will take place in next November and December. The first coronavirus transmission was detected in the country on March 8 last year. Later the announcement of closure for the educational institutions came on March 17. Aftermaths, the ongoing closure was extended in phases. AH