Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Wednesday said the ongoing closure of the educational institutions across the country will be extended further due to the coronavirus situation.

“The closure will have to be extended. We will announce the new date later,” she said while addressing an online press conference.

“There is no alternative to extending the closure in several phases. We cannot shut the institutions for six months or a year at a time. We are also deciding on whether it is possible to reopen the universities first,” she said.

The minister also said the government is closely observing the corona situation in the country. “We have seen many countries reopened their educational institutions early and then shut them down again. We are trying to make the right decision for students,” she said.

Dipu Moni also hinted the schedule for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will be announced in next week.

Earlier on March 16, the Ministry of Education issued a press release regarding the government decision of closing all educational institutions and coaching centres from March 18 to 31 in wake of to Covid-19 outbreak. 

No classes have been held since that day. Later the closure was extended till October 3 in several phases.

BDST: 1745 HRS, SEP 30, 2020
AP/SMS