Online classes for XI students begin

The online classes for the newly admitted students of class XI under the 2020-21 academic session started on Sunday. 

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni inaugurated the online classes from Dhaka College premises through a virtual event. Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury was present as special guest at the event. 

The online admission process for class XI started on 9 August and ended on 17 September this year.

Some 12.5 lakh students got their admission in class XI under the 2020-21 academic session, while the number of students who have passed this year's SSC and equivalent exams is over 16.90 lakh.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said the ministry had started the online classes despite various complexities. "It has been possible because of digitalisation," she said.

"We have lost many valuable things for Covid-19. But it has also given us some opportunities like digitalisation in the sector of education," she added.

Professor Nehal Ahmed, principal of Dhaka College, hosted the inaugural ceremony of online classes on Sunday.

Secretary of Secondary and Higher Secondary Division Mahbub Hossain, Technical and Madrasa Education Secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan, Director General of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Dr Syed Md Golam Faruk, and Chairman of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Sub-Committee and Chairman of Dhaka Education Board Professor Ziaul Haque, among others, were also present at the function.

Dhaka Education Board Chairman Professor Ziaul Haque told The Business Standard that it was the demand of time to introduce online classes for class XI students.

"Now we are happy as we have done it successfully," he added.

Taskina Mahnoor Pritha, a student of Birshreshtha Noor Mohammad Public College, told The Business Standard that they waited for the day for three months.

"We were in tension when the class would start. It is a good decision of the government to connect us with the study online. I welcome the decision," she added.

Usually, the classes for the class XI students start on 1 July every year. However, it got delayed by more than three months due to the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

On March 16, the Ministry of Education issued a press release announcing the government's decision to close all educational institutions and coaching centres from 18 March to 31 March, considering students' safety amid the global pandemic.

Classes have remained suspended since that day, although administrative activities gradually resumed.

The ministry has extended the closure on several occasions: first until April 9, then April 25, May 5, May 30, August 6, August 31, October 3, and finally, until October 31.