Schools, Colleges Reopen Amid Four Challenges

Childhood measles, the looming threat of dengue, and sweltering heat—these three pose major challenges. With time slipping by, the issue of completing the syllabus has now been added. Broadly speaking, educational institutions are reopening tomorrow, Sunday, facing these four challenges.

The Eid and summer break lasted for 16 days. From tomorrow, campuses will once again be bustling with the footsteps of millions of students. Although the death rate from measles has declined, dengue is beckoning dangerously. The heat is only just beginning. Furthermore, keeping schools open on Saturdays has also become a contentious issue. Principals and parents are worried about these matters.

According to the 2026 academic calendar, the holiday began on May 24 and continued until June 4. As June 5 and 6 were weekly holidays, full-fledged classroom activities will essentially commence on June 7. Meanwhile, holidays for madrasas will continue until June 11. Combining that with weekly holidays, they will reopen on June 14.

Teachers report that a severe heatwave is sweeping across the country in June. Keeping students in classrooms and ensuring their health protection in this scorching heat is a major concern. Frequent load-shedding in rural and semi-urban areas is another worry. Overall, managing educational institutions is becoming increasingly challenging. As a result, alongside teaching activities, teachers and parents are anxious about student comfort and safety.

Professor Sakhawat Hossain Khan, Director (Secondary) of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), said, "Due to the intense heat, we are encouraging schools to temporarily suspend assemblies or hold them indoors. Besides ensuring adequate clean drinking water, we have requested that if any student shows symptoms of measles in affected areas, they should not be sent to school for a few days and be kept resting. A cell has been formed by DSHE and the Directorate of Primary Education to monitor the situation."

Officials say that due to the long closure, there is a risk of Aedes mosquito breeding in stagnant water on school grounds, under flowerpots, or on rooftops. DSHE has instructed that on the very first day of reopening, every campus, classroom, rooftop, and surrounding area be cleaned thoroughly, ensuring no water accumulates anywhere. The Director General of DSHE, Professor Dr. Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, announced surprise visits to oversee these tasks.

He stated that directives have been issued to schools regarding what to do about dengue and measles. Special teams will be in the field to monitor cleanliness, especially, and will conduct surprise inspections.

Primary Schools to Remain Open on Saturdays as Well

To compensate for the academic shortfall in the current academic year, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education will keep primary schools open on Saturdays as previously decided. This has created renewed, suppressed discontent among teachers and parents. Many argue that holding classes for six consecutive days, especially in extreme heat, is detrimental to the physical and mental health of children.
A primary school headteacher from Dhaka, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "Children will return to class after a 16-day break. But in this intense heat, secondary schools are getting a weekly holiday on Saturdays, while our young primary students have to attend class. Many schools don't have enough fans. Add to that the lack of electricity, and children could fall ill. Moreover, infectious diseases like measles or chickenpox spread quickly among children in this heat. We are trying our best to maintain a safe environment."

However, the headteacher believes the decision regarding Saturday holidays needs to be reconsidered. Meanwhile, the principal of a private college in the Mohammadpur area commented that the challenges are greater at the secondary and higher secondary levels. June is followed by several public holidays in July and August, making it difficult to complete the remaining syllabus for the year and prepare for timely assessment exams.

According to the academic calendar, after schools reopen on Sunday, the next holidays will begin in July. There is a one-day holiday on July 29 for Ashari Purnima. Additionally, educational institutions will remain closed on August 5 for the 'July Uprising Day', on August 12 for Akheri Chahar Somba, and on August 26 for Eid-e-Miladunnabi (PBUH). Following these, there are also holidays in September for Shubho Janmashtami and Fateha-i-Yazdaham.