Home ›› 13 Sep 2021 ›› Front
The reopening of schools and colleges has sent a wave of ecstasy among students who are now back to campuses after a tedious long gap not seen ever before.
The students, teachers and staff were delighted and all smiles as if they have conquered something else and been yearning for it. The entire academia across the capital wore a festive look to welcome the students, the academicians and the support staff.
The Business Post correspondents visited a number of schools and colleges across the metropolis including National Bangla High School in Mirpur, Upashahar Government Primary School, Al Nahiyan High School, Mirpur Government High School, Government Bangla College, Dhanmondi Government Boys High School, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College and Nandigram High School.
The educational institutions were seen to largely follow the health rules – measuring the students’ body temperature, setting up hand-washing facilities on the school premises and asking the pupils to stand in queues maintaining social distancing before entering their classrooms.
In Upashahar Government Primary School, some 30 students were fond accommodating a classroom maintaining at least about half a metre distance from each other.
All students and teachers attended their class wearing mask.
Nur Hossain, a VI grader at Mirpur Government High School, said he was very excited before joining the class.
“I am really happy as I could meet with my friends on the campus after a long time. Finally, I saw my teachers after more than a year of online learning amid the pandemic,” he explained.
Like Nur Hossain, many a student vented their feelings through laughter and noise – a typical picture
on the campuses – as schools reopened their doors nationwide for the first time after they went shut on March 17, 2020.
It was observed that many schools were decorated with colourful papers, balloons and flowers to welcome the students back into their classrooms.
Dhaka College and Narinda Government High School welcomed their students with flowers on the first day of reopening.
On the other hand, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College used digital thermometer to measure the body temperature of its students.
Talking to The Business Post, Sabina Yeasmin, headmistress of Dhanmondi Government Boys High School, said: “We all are very happy as we finally could see our students after a long time.”
“They are like our children. It is a memorable day for all of us as we finally resumed in-person classes and examinations after a long time.”
The school head maintained that their students were very much excited and happy, and they followed health guidelines including wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and washing hands as well.
The secondary school also provided hand sanitizer to the students and vowed to strictly follow health rules issued by the government for all academic institutions.
A teacher at Maple Leaf International School in Dhaka said they allowed only class six students on the first day.
“We have over 1,000 students on this campus. We are planning to hold classes for about 110-120 days. Today about 55 students joined classes following health guidelines,” he added.
Mahfuza Khanam, professor and chairperson, Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka said: “After a long gap students are back to classrooms which will leave a very positive impact over their mind and health.”
A physical presence in classrooms improves concentration and provides motivation for learning process which also creates a positive impact over the students’ overall academic performance, described the academician.
“For healthy development, it is essential for students to go to their campuses – a practice that helps them make more sociable. But now is a challenge for all of us to prevent Covid-19 transmission in educational institutions,” she argued.
Earlier on Sunday, Education Minister Dipu Moni warned of strict measures against the authorities of educational institutions if health rules are violated amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
On the same day, the minister suspended the principal of Azimpur Government Girls School and College as the classrooms were found dirty on the first day of its reopening.
According to the government decision, the Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary School Certificate examinees of 2020-2021 session and the Primary Education Completion examinees will join classes regularly while the students of grade I to IV and grade VI to IX once a week initially.
Earlier on Saturday, Education Minister Dipu Moni said the educational institutions will be shut again if the Covid-19 infection rate goes up.
On September 10, Health Minister Zahid Maleque also hinted that schools and colleges would be closed if the coronavirus infection rises.
The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 recommended vaccination of at least 80 per cent of teachers and staff.
The government shuttered all educational institutions in March last year to halt the spread of Covid-19.
According to the UNICEF report published on August 24, 2021, a prolonged closure of educational institutions during the pandemic has affected over 40 million students from pre-primary to higher education levels in Bangladesh.
The longer the children remain out of schools, the less likely they are to return to academia as they face an increased risk of violence, child labour and child marriage, cited the report.
