Staff Reporter :
Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, addressing reporters at his secretariat office on Wednesday, announced that the government has decided against reopening educational institutions, particularly universities, citing the current unrest across the country.
“The government will prioritise the ongoing HSC and equivalent examinations, considering that several tests had to be postponed due to clashes and violence arising from the demand for quota reforms in government jobs,” Minister Nowfel stated.
He further added, “It will not be wise to reopen the educational institutions hurriedly.
Smooth academic environment will have to be ensured first for reopening the educational institutions,” added the minister.
Amid the ongoing curfew and restricted movement, the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) and the National University have taken measures to halt all examinations.
The BPSC has announced the postponement of all exams until July 31st, including the 44th BCS viva voce test.
Public Relations Officer SM Matiur Rahman conveyed this through a text message on Monday.
The affected exams include the half-yearly departmental exam (June-2024), Non-Cadre Standard Aptitude Test, MCQ or preliminary exams, practical or shorthand exams, written exams, and viva voce exams.
The postponement is due to unavoidable circumstances, as stated by BPSC officials.
Revised dates and times for these examinations will be disclosed later on BPSC’s official website and through mass media channels.
Similarly, the National University has issued a notice suspending all exams until further notice. The university will announce the revised schedule for these tests in due course.
Due to quota reform movement, the authorities suspended classes and exams for indefinite period.
With the directives of the University Grants Commission on July 16, all the universities were closed and urged the students to vacate the residential halls to tackle the clashes between general students and ruling party student wing on the campuses.
Meanwhile, the government has issued a circular on the quota reform mentioning the allotment of the quotas and merits for the government jobs.
The protesting students, however, said that they have not fully agreed with the circular as it has been issued unilaterally with their consultations as they are the major stakeholder of it.
They have been demanding to reopen their campuses quickly as part of their array of demands.
But the government still could not tell when the educational institutions would be opened.
Meanwhile, after a meeting with the Home Ministry on Wednesday, Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury said that they are evaluating the situation to open the schools and colleges.
Regarding the reopening of the universities, he said, “The current situation is not conducive to reopening universities.”
He said that the government would prioritise the holding of the HSC and equivalent examinations.
Following the clashes and violence, the Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee on Thursday postponed the exams on July 21, 23 and 25 following nationwide violence.
Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor of National University urged all stakeholders to create convenient environment for education.
“The students should return to their reading tables as soon as possible. Arrangement should be made for the coexistence of all through exercising culture and traditions to bring back the normal environment in the universities,” he said.