Govt weighs online-offline schooling amid measles outbreak, energy crisis

Bangladesh may be heading toward a hybrid education model in its major cities, as the government weighs a mix of online and in-person classes amid global energy pressures and a fresh measles outbreak.

The proposal, now under consideration by the Ministry of Education, will ultimately require approval from the Cabinet before it can be rolled out.

Education Minister Ehsanul Haque Milon said the idea was discussed in a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division on Tuesday.

“There is a strong preference among many parents for online classes, but the government also sees the importance of continuing physical classes,” the minister told reporters.

Officials are now working on a framework that would split the academic week between virtual and classroom learning. The exact balance — how many days online versus offline — will be finalised in a proposal to be placed before the Cabinet.

The move reflects a cautious approach, aiming to keep education running without fully committing to either extreme. Rising energy concerns have already disrupted normal routines in many sectors, while health risks linked to measles have added a new layer of urgency for policymakers.

If approved, the hybrid model would primarily apply to metropolitan areas, where both digital access and population density make such a system more feasible.

For now, students, parents and schools are left waiting as the government fine-tunes a decision that could reshape how classes are conducted in the months ahead.