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Bangladesh’s education sector was battered by heatwaves, floods, and cold snaps earlier in the year. As it started to recover, the deadlock over the quota reform movement emerged. Growing concerns are now focused on how students will offset their learning deficits amid a series of unexpected and unwelcome interruptions.

Teachers and parents worry that extended absences from class activities could adversely affect annual evaluations and final examinations, particularly if lower-grade students increasingly disengage from learning.

Because of violence in the quota reform protests, all schools have been closed since Jul 16 to ensure student safety.

A curfew was imposed as the conflict escalated, but it is now being gradually relaxed, and offices and courts are reopening. However, it remains uncertain when schools will reopen.

Parents and educators are demanding the quick reopening of schools to boost class activities and address learning gaps.

They have asked the government and school authorities to conduct additional classes and examinations by extending the academic schedule to recover lost time.

Educationist Professor AK Azad Chowdhury suggested holding classes and exams on Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays, if necessary, to compensate for the time lost due to the closures.

Students in primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools are suffering the most due to the closure of educational institutions amid the violence during the quota reform movement.

Class tests, half-yearly examinations and evaluations, and Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary Certificate exam preparations are all being adversely affected, causing students to fall behind.

Prof Azad said: "Additional classes can be scheduled to recover the lost time."

There are fears that universities may face prolonged session jams due to the teachers' strike over the pension scheme and the ongoing quota reform movement.

Despite these concerns, two government ministries have indicated that it is currently unsafe to reopen educational institutions, citing uncertainties about the end of the quota reform movement and the lifting of curfews and army deployments.

Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel told bdnews24.com that the government is actively working to reopen educational institutions in areas outside Dhaka and its neighbouring districts as soon as possible.

While students and protesters are pushing for universities to reopen, authorities have yet to make any definitive announcements on the matter.

PROLONGED EDUCATION SETBACKS

The students' movement demanding quota reform in government jobs turned violent on Jul 15. On Jul 16, clashes in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Rangpur resulted in the deaths of six people, including students and pedestrians.

In response, the government announced the closure of educational institutions that night. By the following morning, primary schools in the city corporation areas and later nationwide were shut.

HSC examinees have fallen behind in their studies as several exams have been postponed due to the quota movement.

The education system faced disruptions of at least two weeks during a period when the government was attempting to mitigate learning deficits by adjusting holiday schedules.

The country's education system has been grappling with the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic for nearly three years. The extensive impact of a year and a half of educational institution closures due to the pandemic is still being addressed.

Educational activities have faced disruptions from natural disasters as well. At the start of the year, severe cold weather forced class cancellations in several districts. Although holidays were reduced during the month of Ramadan to mitigate learning deficits, schools nationwide had to close again due to a heatwave.

In response, the government revised the curriculum, shortened summer vacations, and cancelled Saturday holidays for several weeks to keep classes ongoing.

Amid these changes, the new curriculum is significantly altering teaching methods, leading parents to emphasise the importance of maintaining regular class and examination schedules.

Concerns are mounting that the prolonged closure of educational institutions and the current situation are causing students to lose interest in studying at home and struggle with focus.

Teachers are also worried about addressing the learning deficits.

Bidhan Kumar Saha, headmaster of Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government Girls' High School, said: "Recovering from these losses will be difficult, as contemporary education is heavily reliant on classroom activities. Keeping schools open is crucial, but we keep facing setbacks due to various issues."

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS HALTED

In the first half of 2024, the national elections, cold snaps, and heatwaves disrupted classroom activities in schools.

Due to Eid-ul-Azha and summer holidays at the end of June, the half-yearly summative assessments were delayed and began on Jul 3.

After four exams, the assessments for classes six to nine were suspended due to the quota movement.

Priyanti Arya, a seventh-grade student at Mirpur Cantonment Public School and College, noted the challenges posed by these disruptions.

“When classes are closed, studying at home isn’t as effective. The guidance we get in class is crucial, and being at home feels less productive,” she said.

"Even during the heatwaves, schools were closed for several days. After reopening, there was a lot of pressure, which caused difficulties."

Priyanti’s father, Golam Mortuza, expressed concern over the impact on students.

“The ongoing situation is harmful to children’s education. Even when schools are open, the risk of violence on the way to and from school makes it dangerous,” he said.

Mortuza’s other daughter is in the third grade at the same school.

“Unlike the old curriculum, where it was possible to complete the syllabus at home, the new curriculum includes a lot of group work and assignments, so missing school leads to learning gaps,” he said.

CONCERNS OVER SSC EXAMS

Parents of students preparing for next year’s SSC exams are expressing concern about the potential loss of motivation and its impact on results.

Jasmin Sultana, mother of a tenth-grade student at Dr Muhammad Shahidullah School and College in Mirpur, Dhaka, is particularly anxious about her child's future.

Highlighting the negative effects of school closures, Sultana said: “They have only a few months left before the SSC exams. My son has already shown a lack of interest in studying.”

“When schools and coaching centres were open, there was at least some study happening. Now he’s not studying at all. He spends the whole day playing games on his mobile. At this rate, he’ll forget everything he’s learned,” she said.

“If his results turn out bad later, it will be a blow for the rest of his life,” she added.

DELAY IN 11TH AND ENGLISH MEDIUM CLASSES

The government had planned to complete the admission process by Jul 25 and start the eleventh-grade classes on Jul 30.

However, due to internet shutdowns, students were unable to complete their admissions on time.

The Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee has announced an extension of the admission deadline and a delay in the start of 11th grade classes, which are now scheduled to begin on Aug 6.

Meanwhile, English medium students, who were supposed to start their classes in July after the academic year ended in June, have not yet commenced their lessons.

Kawsar Azam, parent of a second grader at Scholastica School in Mirpur, said: “The child has been promoted to a new class, but hasn’t been able to attend school even for a single day.”

“The kids don’t want to stay at home; they want to meet their friends and teachers and engage in sports and activities.”

HSC CANDIDATES IN TROUBLE

The COVID-19 pandemic had already disrupted educational schedules, delaying the 11th-grade exams by three months.

Now, the protests have caused further delays for the HSC candidates.

On Jul 18, due to nationwide violence, the HSC and equivalent exams were postponed.

As the situation worsened, the committee extended the postponement until Aug 1.

If conditions improve, the exams are expected to resume on Aug 4 as per the previously announced schedule, according to Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar, chairman of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and chairman of Dhaka Education Board.

He told bdnews24.com, “We are discussing how to reschedule the postponed exams. We hope to resume them after Aug 11.”

The delay has also disrupted students' preparations, adding to their distress.

WHAT’S THE GOVERNMENT PLANNING?

 

Mahbubur Rahman Tuhin, a spokesman for the primary and mass education ministry, said they did not make a decision on reopening the schools before Aug 1.

Education Minister Mohibul said the government was gathering information on the schools.

“Our target is to reopen the secondary education schools across the country other than in Dhaka and surrounding districts as soon as possible,” he said.

He also said the education ministry urges the heads of the higher educational institutions to discuss the reopening with student orgaisations.

Courtesy:bdnews24.com