Staggered SSC exam announced

The Ministry of Education has announced a staggered schedule for this year’s SSC examination, though it had earlier argued in favour of public exams without breaks.

The ministry on Tuesday posted the SSC schedule and of other equivalent exams on its website.

The SSC exams will commence on Feb 2 and the theoretical tests will end on Mar 10.

The music practical is slated for Mar 11, and other practical exams from Mar 12 to 16.

For the past six years, SSC and other equivalent exams have been commencing on Feb 1.

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Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid had said in July that there would be no gaps in the exam schedule barring government holidays.

The announcement had evoked a mixed response among students, leading to demonstrations in several parts of the country.

Later, on Sept 7, the minister said the issue was being looked into by the government.

Finally, the Inter Educational Board Coordination Sub-committee proposed holding the theoretical tests in 39 days.

The board had always accepted the exam schedule proposed by the coordination committee.

But, this year, for the first time, it sought opinions on the schedule after the controversy over the proposal to hold unbroken exams.

The ministry has endorsed the exam schedule on the basis of a spectrum of views.