School reopening: Education Minister warns of stern actions over negligence

With students returning to classrooms for the first time in almost a year and half, Education Minister Dipu Moni warned of stern actions against school authorities for not ensuring hygiene rules.

Schools and colleges across the country reopened on Sunday after 542 days of closure due to pandemic and coronavirus restrictions.

During a visit to the Azimpur Government Girls School and College in Dhaka, Minister Dipu Moni suspended its principal and the teachers of the monitoring team for unclean classrooms.

Photo shows some students sitting in a classroom, maintaining social distance on Sunday, September 12, 2021 | Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneSpeaking to the media, she said that the ministry will conduct “surprise visits” to educational institutions and strict actions will be taken in cases of non-compliance of health rules.

“Today’s visit to this school was scheduled. But we will make surprise visits regularly. No one will be spared when it comes to ensuring health and hygiene rules, either teachers or education department officials,” she said.

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The minister said that dengue was also a matter of concern amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Everyone seems excited to be back to the classes… Dengue spreads in daytime as students spend that time in schools, the parents should be conscious. The students should wear full sleeve clothes and socks," said Dipu Moni.

Temperature being measured of students in queue maintaining social distance in BIAM Model School & College, Bogra | Dhaka Tribune

She asked the parents and guardians to be more aware and help with social surveillance without disrupting the academic activities or gathering in front of the schools.

"We have to live with coronavirus for a long time. We think it is appropriate to reopen schools now. If we see a chance of infections increasing, we will get back to the way it was before," the minister added further.