Govt in a bind over school closure
The government seem to be going back and forth on the closure of educational institutions amid the ongoing heatwave.
Schools and colleges were scheduled to reopen on April 21 after the Eid and Pahela Baishakh holidays. But the education ministry initially extended the closure until April 27 and reopened all schools and colleges on Sunday ignoring concerns of parents.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Yesterday, the ministry again announced closure of all schools and colleges in five districts, including Dhaka, for a day.
Two teachers died and three other teachers and 30 schoolchildren became sick in different districts on Sunday. At least 31 more students in six districts, which were not under the purview of the closure, became sick yesterday.
Even the High Court stepped in, directing the authorities concerned to shut all primary and secondary schools and madrasas until Thursday.
The HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Quader and Justice Khizir Hayat Lizu passed the order yesterday in a suo motu (voluntary) rule.
Hours after the order, the primary education ministry announced closure of all public primary schools until May 2 and the education ministry shut, for today, all secondary schools, madrasas, and technical education institutions in Khulna and Rajshahi divisions, and Dhaka, Tangail, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj, Gazipur, Kurigram, Dinajpur, and Patuakhali districts.
Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, however, said his ministry would appeal against the HC order.
"According to the constitution, the education ministry has the jurisdiction to decide when the educational institutions would be closed and how they would be run. The rules of business gave the education ministry the jurisdiction to do so," he told reporters in Dhaka in response to a question about the HC order.
Mohibul, however, said the HC has the authority to issue directives or orders on some issues, which is also constitutional.
"But if any decision comes on a particular matter on which the education ministry already has the constitutional jurisdiction, then we will definitely put the matter before the Appellate Division.
"We believe that it is in the best interests of all that each institution of the state exercises its own authority," the minister said.
According to the Met office, 33 districts experienced temperatures exceeding 36 degrees Celsius yesterday. Temperature crossed 42 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi, Jashore, and Ishwardi of Pabna.
The day's highest temperature of 43°C was recorded in Chuadanga which was also the highest temperature recorded this year.
STUDENTS BECOMING SICK
Yesterday, at least 12 students in Narail, seven in Cumilla, four each in Noakhali and Barguna, and two each in Barishal and Patuakhali became sick during school hours. Some of them even lost consciousness.
Asked about the students becoming sick, the education minister said, "We will also have to look into whether the students are becoming sick in or outside schools."
"Where do the students stay when they are not in schools? We have seen at the grassroots level that students work in the fields and help their parents in their work which is more dangerous for them. They are not exposed to danger if they attend schools," Mohibul said.
Many parents who expressed concern over the resumption of in-person classes amid the heatwave do not buy the minister's logic.
They argued the students need to travel to and from schools amid the searing heat.
"Though the morning temperature is somewhat bearable, it becomes almost intolerable around midday when we take our kids back to home," said Shimul Parvez, father of a first grader in Dhaka.
"Things get worse if we get stuck in traffic. My daughter becomes exhausted after returning home," he said.
The situation in rural areas is tougher as many schools are located far away. This exposes learners, particularly those who walk to schools, parents said.
"Many schools don't have ceiling fans. We often experience power cuts which makes the condition inside classrooms unbearable for children. We have to remember that they are children," said Sabrin Jahan, mother of a class-IV student.
The parents this paper spoke to suggested that the government rearrange the academic calendar judiciously and fix the holidays so that the students do not have to suffer during the extreme weather conditions.
MINISTER'S COMMENTS
Education Minister Mohibul said, "Students will be affected if educational institutions are closed in those districts where the temperature is not reaching 39-40 degrees Celsius."
"However, our decision is that there is no justification for closing educational institutions in those areas which are experiencing rainfall and low temperatures. This is our position."
Referring to Sunday's rain in Sylhet, he said, "Why should the schools in Sylhet be closed? Why should the students there be deprived of education?
"We have a mentality that everything is Dhaka-centric. We see in the media that if the temperature rises in Dhaka, then a measure should be taken all over the country," he said.
Referring to the HC order, Mohibul said, "Since this is a matter of the court, I don't want to comment on it. However, our stance [on closure of schools] remains the same.
"We will try to settle it in court whether someone can suddenly impose a decision on the executive branch [of the state]," he said.
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