Ministry decides to abolish public exams at fifth grade

The primary and mass education ministry has decided to abolish public examinations at the end of the fifth grade with primary education being extended to the eighth grade.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 31 May 2016, 01:32 PM
Updated : 31 May 2016, 04:16 PM

The decision, however, will have to be approved by the Cabinet approval before its implementation.

At present, students have to sit for the Primary Education Completion (PEC) exams at the end of the fifth grade.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar told reporters at his Secretariat office on Tuesday, “We want only one primary education completion exam, and that will be held at the end of the eighth grade.”

The government drew flak from different quarters for introducing the fifth-grade exams in 2009.

Educationalists and guardians have since been demanding its abolition.

The government recently extended primary education up to the eighth grade from the fifth grade in the light of the National Education Policy.

The minister said the name of the public exam at the Grade-8 was yet to be decided.

File Photo

“The ministry will propose the name, which can be PSC (primary school certificate) or something similar,” he said.

At present, Junior School Certificate (JSC) exams are held at Grade-8.

Asked if the public exams at the fifth grade would be held this year, Rahman said his ministry was trying to abolish it as early as possible.

He said efforts would be made to implement the decision from this year. “I think we can do it if we start preparation from now.”

Asked about the uncertainty fifth graders would face, the minister said, “They are preparing for (public) exams. There is no harm if the exams are not held.”