At the British Council, the health and safety of all our visitors, staff and the communities in which we operate is our top priority. We support and cooperate with all local government agencies to put all necessary measures in place to ensure the continued well-being of all with whom we engage in the course of our operations. This post is to keep UK institutions updated on key South Asian markets amidst the Covid-19 outbreak.

For travel advice, please refer to FCO updates, and we would encourage institutions who are considering travelling to sign up for alerts - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. We also strongly encourage visiting local government health websites to stay abreast of the prevailing health advisory and precautionary measures in any country. For IELTS test arrangements as a result of Novel Coronavirus precautions, please see  https://www.ielts.org/news/2020/changes-to-ielts-test-arrangements-in-some-locations-due-to-novel-coronavirus. THough it's important to note the IELTS indicator has now been launched. Click here for more details.  

We are monitoring the situation very closely and will continue to provide updates as the situation develops. For more South Asia updates, webinars, market insights and other services in international higher education, please continue to visit the IES website.

Bangladesh

To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Bangladesh called for a nationwide general holiday from 26 March 2020 which is continuing at present. All international passenger flights have been suspended until 16 May 2020.

Education

• On 27 April, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that all educational institutions will need to remain closed till September 2020 if situation caused by the coronavirus outbreak does not improve. To combat the crisis and ensure that our students are safe, all educational institutions have been closed since 17 March.

• The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)/equivalent examination was scheduled to start on 22 March but has been postponed until further notice. Under the current circumstances, the probable date to start the examination might be 31 May but this is not confirmed.

• British Council Bangladesh has postponed regular face-to-face public services, courses and classes in all its centres until Eid-Ul-Fitr holidays.

• All examinations including paper-based and computer-delivered IELTS tests in Bangladesh have been cancelled until 16 May.

• Both Cambridge International and Pearson Education announced that they will not be holding any school examinations for the May-June Session 2020.

• The government is promoting online classes and accordingly many schools and colleges are trying to adopt this practice. For primary and secondary level students, the lessons are being telecast on the state-run Sangsad TV channel. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education has already started airing lessons for secondary level students of grade six to ten.

• On 23 March, the University Grants Commission (UGC) Bangladesh requested the universities to conduct online classes but barred examinations or examination tests. The universities who already had the infrastructure were already conducting online classes, while others are still working to develop online platforms.

• Considering the context of Bangladesh, during the month of Ramadan, education institutions usually remain closed and as Ramadan is starting from later this week, the universities are expected to conduct online classes after Ramadan, i.e. early June.

India

The nationwide lockdown which started on 25 March and then extended till 3 May has been further extended till 17 May 2020. The country has been divided into green, orange, red and contaminated zones. Activities and movements are restricted or relaxed as per severity of cases in these zones. Please find more details here.

15 special trains have been scheduled to operate from 12 May 2020 to transport passengers to and from Delhi. This is in addition to the inter-state trains which are carrying migrant workers across the country. For more details please read:

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/irctc-special-trains-full-list-of-trains-and-time-table-starting-from-may-12/story-q7D69KypcPaDWG1Y8dUZWJ.html click

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/railways-to-resume-passenger-services-from-may-12-all-your-questions-answered-covid19-lockdown-6403398/

Education

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct remaining examinations for classes X and XII between 1- 15 July 2020. Please read more here.
• The Council for the India School Certificate Examination (CISCE) will conduct ICSE 10th and ISC 12th pending examinations as soon as the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted. Please read more here
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines to Indian higher education institutions for new academic calendar and examination in view of Covid-19 pandemic. Please read more here.

Travel and Visa Restrictions

• The Bureau of Immigration has instructed Indian nationals stranded outside the country to register themselves with the Indian Missions. Arrangements are being made to bring them back to the country by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Department of Military Affairs. The efforts will include bringing back hundreds of Indian students currently stranded outside India.
• All existing visas granted to foreign nationals except those belonging to Diplomatic, Official, UN/International organisations, Employment and Project categories shall remain suspended.

Nepal:

In light of Covid-19, Nepal Government extended the nationwide lock down until 18 May 2020. All international flights and international borders has been suspended until end of May 2020.

Education:

• Nepal Examination Board had postponed Secondary Education Examination (SEE), and annual examination of grade 11 and 12 which were planned to start from March, late April and early May respectively until further notice.
• British Council Nepal cancelled all IELTS exam including Life Skills and UKVI from 21 March until 21 May 2020. However, when the current situation improves and testing becomes possible again, we will be able to offer CD IELTS in the first instance.
• To find the next available test date please visit https://www.britishcouncil.org.np/exam/ielts/book-test.  Exams related  Frequently  Asked Questions (FAQs) are available at https://www.britishcouncil.org.np/covid-19-exams-faqs . Cambridge Assessment International Education cancelled its examination of May/June series.
• Cambridge Assessment International Education cancelled its examination of May/June series.

Pakistan:

The reported cases of Coronavirus disease in Pakistan continue to rise. Nationwide lockdown was eased in the country starting from 09 May. According to the government, it began a phased listing of the lockdown in order to strengthen the deteriorating conduction of the economy and workforce. Small shops, factories and offices were allowed to start operations, but shopping malls, restaurant and public transport remains closed. Retail shops have been given stringent SOPs to follow and social and other public congregations remain banned in the country.

Education

• The federal government has decided to keep educational institutions closed till 15 July 2020. The exams of local intermediate and matriculation boards have been cancelled. The secondary and higher secondary students will be promoted based on their previous exam results. The students of grade 9 and 11, will be required to appear for a composite exam next year.
• Cambridge International has cancelled its exam session of May/June 2020 and have designed a plan to grade their students for GCEs and IGCSEs. The schools have been asked to submit various kinds of information and evidence, on the basis of which Cambridge International will give grades to their students. In case of private students, Cambridge International has urged them to appear for their exams in October/November 2020 exam session. Cambridge International has also committed to release the result of October/November 2020 session early to facilitate students in their university admission.
• Junior and Lower secondary schools have decided that they will not be taking exams any longer. The students will be promoted to the higher classes. The state-run-television channel called “Teleschool” is being telecast on weekdays and runs classes from grades 1-12 from 8am to 6pm.
• The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has informed that it will consider its options to decide their way ahead. The chairman HEC informed the media that HEC will assess the situation till 31 May and then will come up with their plan to proceed. The chairman highlighted the issues with the online classes and conducting of exams.

Sri Lanka

The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 infections in Sri Lanka has been on the rise since the lockdown which started on 16 March 2020.  Many of the new cases are within a Navy Camp which accounts for a majority of the total infections. The Government is engaged in a large-scale repatriation effort to bring back stranded Sri Lankans from various countries including UK, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Netherlands, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. The government is giving priority to students who wish to return to their home country. Curfew is currently in place for the Colombo and Gampaha districts which have been categorised as high-risk areas. Curfew in all other districts have been lifted and re-imposed daily from 8pm – 5am.

With the recommencement of some state and private sector essential services, the government has issued special guidelines on workplace preparedness and adherence to rule and regulations to help combat the spread of Covid19.

Education

• The Ministry of Education has decided to consult health officials before re-opening schools for the second term owing to the current situation surrounding Covid 19. The first term holidays were advanced to March 13 with the second term set to begin on April 20 following a decision made by the ministry last month. However, Secretary to the Ministry of Education said the date of re-opening schools is likely to be extended. Priority will be given to A/L and O/L students when schools are reopened. Previously it was announced that schools will reopen on 11 May 2020.

• Although no formal decision has been made regarding the GCE Advanced Level exam, discussions are ongoing regarding the postponement of the exam.
• All other UK board school exams have been postponed and/or cancelled. British Council together with the exam boards are in contact with candidates and schools regarding next steps.

If you have any questions please write to Aatreyee Guha Thakurta (Regional Marketing and Communications Manager, International Education Services, South Asia).