Published : 05 Apr 2026, 10:12 PM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:33 PM
The government is set to decide by this week whether to reintroduce online classes alongside in-person lessons at schools and colleges in metropolitan areas to save fuel, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon says.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday, the minister said the move follows a directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to formulate a "systematic distribution" of academic activities using online and offline options.
“We have yet to sit with the stakeholders. We plan to meet with them over the next two days to reach a decision, which will then be presented to the Cabinet,” Milon said.
The proposal comes as the government explores austerity measures to mitigate the impact of the global energy crisis fuelled by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Under the plan, primary, secondary, and higher secondary institutions in major cities may shift to a hybrid model to reduce the consumption of fuel and electricity.
A final recommendation is expected to be placed during Thursday’s Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani told a briefing that the consultation process is expected to conclude by Monday.
“Discussions are necessary as a uniform system might not work for all classes. We expect to begin issuing specific directives from Sunday to ensure that no student’s education is affected,” the secretary said.
