Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury has announced that 400 educational institutions may remain open on Saturdays following the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. A formal notification will be issued after the holidays to confirm whether schools will be closed or open on Saturdays.
The Minister shared this update during the green, clean, and smart campus construction programme organised by Dhaka Metropolitan South Chhatra League at Alia Madrasa in Bakshibazar on Thursday.
Due to the HSC examination and flooding in the Sylhet region, these 400 institutions might need to stay open on Saturdays to compensate for lost instructional time. "We will take a decision after Eid regarding the opening or closing of educational institutions on Saturdays. Educational institutions are open till now on Saturday," the Minister stated. He emphasised the effort to adhere to the previously established academic calendar while accommodating these exceptional circumstances.
The Eid and summer holidays for secondary schools are set to start on June 13 and end on July 2. However, due to collective evaluations beginning on July 3, some institutions will have reduced holidays and will reopen on June 30.
Addressing the impact of recent floods in the Sylhet region, the Minister noted, "The institutions which were closed due to flooding in Sylhet region are being worked out to maintain Saturday closure as before in other parts of the country by keeping a special provision to keep them open."
He assured that a specific notification would be released soon after Eid-ul-Azha to provide clarity on this matter. For now, it appears that maintaining Saturday closures might not be feasible for these affected institutions.
This decision aims to ensure that students receive the necessary instructional time despite the challenges posed by exams and natural disasters, demonstrating the government's commitment to maintaining educational standards and addressing unforeseen disruptions, minister added.
