DHAKA: Planning Ramadan vacation for educational institutions across the country laid bare a lack of coordination between ministries with the holiday beginning next week on different dates.

The Ministery of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education lacked the coordination in announcement of the holiday.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Thursday morning declared that all the educational institutions across the country would go into vacation from August 14 amid Ramadan rush.

As per Education Minister’s announcement, all the educational institutions will remain closed till September 16 bar the Madrasas, which will remain closed from August 14 to September 19.

At the same time, Secretary of the Primary and Mass Education Ministry Abu Alam Mohammad Shahid Khan on Thursday noon told journalists that all the primary-level educational institutions across the country would go for vacation from August 16.

All government, registered non-government and community primary schools will be shut from August 16 to September 16 for Ramadan, Shab-e-Qadr, Jumatul Bidwa and Eid-ul-Fitr, Shahid Khan said.
 
Senior Information Officer of the Education Ministry Subodh Chandra Dhali signed a government handout stating what the Education Minister had told journalists.

The decision for extended vacation was taken in line with a proposal by the Home Ministry, especially for tackling nagging traffic jam in the capital, Dhaka, during the holy month of Ramadan and ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the Education Ministry added.

Replying to a question from journalisrts, Nahid said institutions which are taking examinations may take any alternative decision of their own.

A senior official of the Education Ministry said the notice for vacation came from the Education Directoorate before preparing the proposal for vacation. “When contacted, the authority said that they had issued it with order from the higher authorities,” he said.

Sources at the ministry said they received two separate letters from Home Ministry and the Prime Minister’s office on Thursday morning regarding the vacation.

The Home Ministry recommended that the vacation should begin from 10th day of Ramadan so that nagging traffic jam in the capital could be tackled.

The letter from the PM office directed closure from 14 August.

Since the government offices will remain closed during August 13, 14 and 15, the Education Minister spoke to journalists in a hurry.

The officials themselves were stunned by the hurried decision.

As the journalists went to the Secretary to the Primary and Mass Education Ministry, he was surprised to learn about the announcement made by the Education Minister.

“Why all educational institutions across the country should be shut for traffic jam in the capital and why the decision has been taken without any consultation?” asked the puzzled Secretary.  

In reply to a question over lack of coordination between the two ministries, Shahid Khan declined to make any response, saying: “Why do you ask me such a question when you realise the situation?”

BDST 2104 HRS AUGUST 12, 2010