Govt mulls annulling MCQ

The government is considering doing away with the multiple-choice question format in public examinations to prevent ‘unethical practices’ by teachers.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Saturday said ‘best schools’ will not be listed on the basis of results in public examinations to put an end to the competition among the schools.

“It has become easy to score 40 out of 50 due to unfair means,” he told the media while unveiling results of SSC and equivalent examinations.

“We’ll talk with relevant authorities to decide its future,” he added.

Nahid admitted that some teachers smuggled out MCQ papers before the examinations to help students score high marks.

“We’ve received proofs of such malpractice at Borga’s Amtali school and Dhaka’s BAF Shaheen School and College.

“Everyone involved in the incidents will be punished,” the minister said.

Such acts would create a negative impression about the entire teaching fraternity, he said.

This year, 87.04 percent candidates have cleared the SSC and equivalent tests.

Nahid said they had prepared lists of top schools to encourage competition.

“There will be no more top-ten or top-twenty [school] system,” he said. “Those who will do well will be lauded.”

Questions were also raised over Demra Shamsul Haque Khan School and College topping the SSC results list.

The minister skirted a direct reply on the issue.

“Many others are on the list of suspects. As of now, we are assuming that they’ve secured the top spot.

“But we’ll look into it since you (journalists) have raised questions,” he added.