Despite encouragingclasses, the University Grants Commission (UGC) instructed private universitiesto immediately suspend online exams, assessments and student admissions in thefirst week of April. But this time the regulator is going to move away fromthat decision. The Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) has given theopportunity to online examinations and admissions to private universities sothat higher education is not harmed due to the situation caused by coronavirus.

The commission is goingto pave the way for private universities to launch all kinds of educationalactivities online in the face of the demands of the Private UniversityAssociation, an organization of entrepreneurs of private universities.

A directive will beissued soon to outline the process by which private universities will conductonline education activities. The UGC will publish guidelines in this regardnext week.

The decision was taken ata joint meeting of UGC, public university and private university authoritieswith Education Minister Dipu Moni via video conference on Thursday.

Besides Deputy Ministerfor Education Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Nawfel and UGC Chairman Prof KaziShahidullah, President of Private University Association Sheikh Kabir Hossainwas also present at the video meeting.

The meeting alsodiscussed measures to reduce session congestion in public universities throughthe Academic Council after the outbreak of coronavirus, taking classes onweekly leave.