Monday’s exams shifted to Friday

The government has decided to shift Monday’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations to Friday after the BNP-led coalition called a shutdown amid its non-stop blockade.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 1 Feb 2015, 06:49 AM
Updated : 1 Feb 2015, 12:25 PM

The education ministry on Sunday also decided to continue the tests on other days as per schedule.

Friday’s tests would be held from 9am to 12pm instead of 10am to 1pm for Jumma prayers, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told a press conference.

As the examinations have been deferred, the students will have to sit the first exam on Wednesday.

“Inhumane actions are taking place. We cannot expose our children to violence in this situation,” Nahid said.

“Their safety and lives are more important to us (than merely holding the exams),” he added.

The BNP-led 20-Party alliance rejected repeated calls to end its violent blockade, which has already claimed 40 lives, considering the SSC examinations.

Instead, the coalition called a 72-hour general strike across Bangladesh from Sunday.

Nahid had earlier hinted at following the schedule despite the blockade having been enforced since Jan 5.

A total of 1,479,266 students are taking the SSC and equivalent exams this year.

Tests on 37 SSC subjects and 41 HSC subjects were deferred last year due to the BNP's agitations.