Staff Reporter
Amid the severe heat wave, the classes were resumed in primary, secondary, colleges, madrasas, and vocational institutions on Sunday, but ultimately many students and teachers fell sick due to the severe heatwave.
All secondary schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical education institutions in Dhaka, Chuadanga, Jashore, Khulna, and Rajshahi districts will remain closed due to the ongoing heatwave.
A notice was issued by the education ministry in this regard this evening, signed by its Information and Public Relations Officer MA Khair.
However, the education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said that there was no possibility for nationwide closure of educational institutions due to the heatwave.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Sunday issued a three-day heat alert, saying that the prevailing heat wave over the country may continue during the next 72 hours commencing on Sunday and discomfort may increase due to the increase of moisture incursion, warned of the prolonged heatwave’s effects, suggesting potential worsening conditions.
Meanwhile, parents and guardians expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to reopen schools amidst the ongoing heatwave as they fear that their children will fall sick amid this extreme weather,”voiced concerns over the timing of the school reopening in light of the intense heat.
They argued that the government could have waited at least another week before reopening schools, considering the concerns of children, suggested a more cautious approach to safeguarding students’ well-being.
Parents were seen dropping off their children at various school gates in the capital, providing them with water and juice, and advising them to stay healthy in the heat, illustrated parents’ proactive measures to mitigate the heat’s impact on their children.
They are also cautioning them against going outside during class breaks, avoiding outdoor activities, and refraining from running around with friends, highlighted the preventive advice given to children to minimize heat-related risks.
But the parents also feared that their children might fall ill due to the heat if they attend school, underscored the ongoing worries regarding the potential health consequences of attending school during the heatwave.
Teachers also noted that the extreme heat was causing restlessness among children in classrooms, with many falling ill, provided insight into the direct impact of the heatwave on students’ comfort and health within educational settings.
Aklima Begum, a concerned parent seeking shelter from the sweltering heat outside Dania AK School and College, voiced her apprehensions, stating, “Opening schools in this heat is not appropriate. Life is more important than studies.” She further added, “The government could have waited for another week or ten days more before opening the schools amid severe heat wave. Now students are falling ill. Who will take the responsibility?”
Umme Kulsum, a third-grade student at Motijheel Ideal School and College, began her class at 7 am, concluding at 9:40 am. However, she felt nauseous and became slightly unwell afterward, prompting concern from her mother who had arrived to pick her up from school.
Several students at Motijheel Ideal School and College also fell ill due to the intense heat while attending classes, subsequently returning home without completing their studies. Parents noted their children’s fatigue during their journey to school, while some teachers observed that most students were not comfortable attending classes.
Mohsin, the father of Anamika, a fourth-grade student at Ideal School and College, expressed, “Children cannot withstand this heat. It is difficult for them to concentrate in their studies.” Shamsunnahar, another parent, remarked, “The government has canceled Saturday holidays. It has made two types of decisions. Primary schools will remain closed on Saturdays, while our secondary schools have been opened on Saturdays.”
Jagadish Chandra Pal, a teacher at Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, provided a contrasting view, stating, “Schools have reopened today, and classes are being held. Attendance in our branch is normal. It is true that children are struggling more in the extreme heat; however, there have been no incidents of children falling ill in our school.”
The heatwave gripping the country since March 31 has persisted for the past 28 days, an unprecedented occurrence. In response, the government opted not to reopen schools after the Eid holiday, announcing their closure until April 27 due to the unbearable heat.
Education Minister Mahibul Hasan addressed the decision to keep schools closed during the intense heat, stating, “It is not wise to keep all schools closed as there is extreme heat in some places. If the temperature exceeds 42 degrees Celsius in any district, all educational institutions in that area will be closed.” He made these remarks at a press briefing following the inauguration of the ‘Technical and Vocational Education Week-2024’.
However, Hasan clarified that there are currently no plans to close educational institutions nationwide despite acknowledging the heat’s impact, stating, “The government has no plans to close all educational institutions nationwide considering the temperature of Dhaka.”
The Parents Unity Forum expressed concerns, warning that if children suffer any harm due to attending classes in intense heat, the government and relevant authorities will be held responsible.
Beyond the capital, students in various educational institutions in other districts also suffered due to the severe heatwave. In Munshiganj, a sixth-grade student named Sumi Akhtar, 14, lost consciousness due to the intense heat while attending classes at Banari Multilateral High School in the Banari Union of the Upazila on Sunday.
Mohammad Kayesur Rahman, the headmaster of Banari Multilateral High School, recounted, “Due to the intense heat, a student of the sixth grade of our school became unconscious. Later, we took her to the Tongibari Health Complex. Now her condition is better than before.”
