Edn Institutions: Govt extends closure till January 16

The government has extended the closure of all educational institutions, which remain closed since March, until January 16 amid a steady rise in the number of infections and deaths from Covid-19.

The education and the primary and mass education ministries issued separate statements in this regard yesterday. However, Qawmi madrasas will remain outside the purview of the government's directive.

The public and private universities will also remain closed till January 16.

However, the University Grants Commission during a virtual meeting with the vice chancellors of 39 public universities on December 13, directed that they can hold honours and masters final examinations following proper health safety measures if the respective academic councils approve.

The first novel coronavirus cases in the country were detected on March 8. The government on March 17 closed the schools, hampering academic activities of around four crore students.

It extended the closure several times as the pandemic showed little sign of abating. The long closure led to cancellation of examinations and left academic calendars in disarray.

The fresh extension comes at a time when the country is moving closer to the 500,000 mark of Covid-19 cases. The tally of confirmed coronavirus cases now stands at 498,293 after the health authorities reported 1,318 new infections in 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday.

There has also been a spike in the number of deaths for the last few weeks. Twenty-five more people died from Covid-19 during the same 24-hour period, according to a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The total number of deaths now stands at 7,217 and the death rate is 1.45 percent.

Among the 25 deceased, 16 are men and nine women. Four of the deceased were aged between 41 and 50, nine between 51 and 60 while 12 were aged above 60.

PUBLIC EXAMS, SCHOOL ADMISSION CANCELLED

The epidemic has resulted in the cancellation of the Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent exams, originally slated for April 1. For preparing HSC exam results, candidates are evaluated based on their results in JSC and SSC tests.

The government also cancelled Primary Education Completion and its equivalent exams, and Junior School Certificate and its equivalent exams due to the pandemic.

More than one crore students of classes six to ten will be promoted to the next classes this year without any annual examinations, the government announced. Instead, school authorities are giving assignments to students.

To avoid health risks amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the government moved to enroll students at schools for all classes for next academic session on the basis of lottery. The application process will be completed online. The lottery is scheduled to be held on December 30.

Because of the pandemic, the government will not hold the Textbook Festival on January 1 when textbooks are handed to primary and secondary students for free.

The authorities also delayed introduction of the new curricula by a year.