Online Classes for Primary Schools Under Consideration

Minister for Education and Primary and Mass Education, Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan, on Wednesday discussed the potential introduction of online and in-person classes for government primary schools in metropolitan areas to tackle the global energy crisis. However, primary school teachers have expressed significant reservations regarding the feasibility of online instruction.

During a discussion held at the conference room of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on April 1, the Minister shared a plan involving a six-day school week. The proposal suggests an alternating schedule where students attend online classes for three days and in-person classes for the remaining three days on an odd-even basis. For example, if Saturday is designated for online learning, Sunday would be an offline session.

Following the presentation of the plan, teacher leaders and heads of various institutions highlighted several limitations. They informed the Minister that primary-level students are often unable to operate digital devices independently, and many families lack the necessary technology to connect their children to online platforms. Some teachers also demanded that the Ministry provide the required devices if the plan proceeds.

When approached for comment, Abu Taher Md. Masud Rana, Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, declined to speak on the matter. However, Abu Nur Md. Shamsuzzaman, Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education, told The Daily Campus, “Please wait for a day. You will know the final decision tomorrow (Thursday).”