Classes at all primary schools, secondary schools and colleges across Bangladesh resumed on Sunday, after Eid-ul-Fitr holidays that was extended due to the ongoing heatwave across the country since the first week of April.
The educational institutions reopened on Sunday although there is no remarkable change in the heatwave condition, worrying the guardians, especially those of primary level students.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Meteorological Department has issued a warning that the ongoing heatwave may persist for 72 hours starting Sunday morning.
鈥楧ue to the increasing moisture incursion, the discomfort may increase,鈥� said the Met Office notice.
With the latest one, the Met Office issued the heat alert for the fourth time in the current month.
Schools and colleges were scheduled to reopen on April 21 after the end of Eid holidays but the closure was extended till April 27 due to sweltering heat across the country caused by the heatwaves.
UNB Khulna correspondent reports, the guardians expressed worry how their children would stay in classrooms for six hours amid scorching heat as the classes of secondary schools start at 10:00am and continue till 4:00pm.
Md Mashiur Rahman, a guardian said, 鈥楬ow will my child stay in her class for a long time amid the sweltering heat? It would be better if the government extended the ongoing holidays.鈥�
Hira Khatun, who was waiting near Govt Laboratory High School, to pick her daughter, said 鈥楳y child is a sixth grader and her class starts at 10:00am and continue till 4:00pm. The school authorities should take classes in the morning shift.鈥�
Shahidul Islam Joarddar, headmaster of Muhsin Government Secondary School in Daulatpur, said that the presence of students was 20-25 per cent on Sunday due to the heatwave.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Farhad Hossain, headmaster of Sighalia upazila Senhati Government High School, said that he was satisfied with the 30 per cent presence of students and they were running academic activities in two shifts.
Meanwhile, the government on Saturday announced the reopening of primary schools' academic activities from Sunday.
School hours will be limited to the cooler morning hours, from 8:00am to 11:30 am. For schools operating in two shifts, the first shift will run from 8:00 am to 9:30 am and the second from 9:45 am to 11:30 am.
Despite these changes, pre-primary level classes will remain closed until further notice, and daily school assemblies will remain suspended to avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.