Dhaka schools to go six-day week, three days online

The Ministry of Education has decided that schools and colleges in Dhaka will operate six days a week, with three of those days conducted online.

Under the proposed plan, offline and online classes will alternate throughout the week. Teachers will be required to attend in person on both online and offline days, while practical sessions will continue to be conducted face-to-face to ensure hands-on learning.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting on Tuesday, which included representatives from schools, colleges, Dhaka Education Board and the education ministry.

A final resolution on the new blended learning system is expected at an emergency session on Wednesday.

The ministry will also determine whether the approach will be extended to other urban centres across the country.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon highlighted that the ongoing war in the Middle East and the resulting global supply shocks necessitated reducing in-person class hours. A recent survey conducted by the ministry found that 55 per cent of respondents supported incorporating online learning into the school schedule.

While online lessons will form half of the week’s classes, officials emphasised maintaining offline sessions to keep students socially engaged. The extended six-day schedule is also intended to recover class hours lost due to Ramadan, Eid holidays, and other disruptions over the past months.