Education ministry urges institutions to adopt austerity measures, encourage sustainable practices

The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE), has urged institutions and their employees to adopt austerity measures and promote sustainable and responsible lifestyle choices amid economic rot. The education ministry has urged all institutions to use public transportation, avoid unnecessary physical meetings and official tours, conduct meetings through virtual platforms, and minimise expenditure on seminars and events.

The education department has issued an official memorandum for bureau heads and autonomous organisations under its administrative control to adopt and promote austerity measures.

“Accordingly, all BHs and all autonomous organisations under Department of Higher Education are requested to adopt and promote the above measures at the institutional level and also disseminate the same amongst their employees to adopt these nationally responsible lifestyle choices,” the official ministry notice said.

The education ministry has urged the use of public transportation and the adoption of electric vehicles to reduce fuel consumption.

Additionally, physical meetings and official tours involving travel outside headquarters should generally be avoided, and permission will be granted only where the purpose cannot be effectively fulfilled through virtual mode.

Similarly, expenditure on refreshments during ceremonial functions, events, and seminars should be kept to a minimum.

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Virtual platforms for meetings, seminars: MoE

Furthermore, air travel for seminars, conferences, exposure visits, study tours, and related activities – both international and domestic – should be kept to a minimum.

As far as possible, seminars, conferences, workshops, and meetings should be conducted through virtual platforms, including video conferencing and online meeting applications.

Physical meetings and official tours involving travel outside headquarters should ordinarily be avoided, and permission will be granted only where it is established that the purpose cannot be effectively achieved through virtual means, the official ministry notice added.