Govt proposes SSC exams spread over 39 days

The government has proposed staggered SSC examinations though it had earlier favoured an unbroken test schedule.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 28 Oct 2014, 04:20 PM
Updated : 28 Oct 2014, 04:23 PM

The draft schedule will be debated over the next three days before being finalised, education ministry’s Deputy Secretary (Madhyamik-1) Enamul Qader Khan has said.

As per the schedule likely to be finalised, the exam will start on Feb 2 with the theoretical part running through to Mar 10.

The music practical has been proposed on Mar 11 and for other subjects from Mar 12 to 16.

In July, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said there would be no gaps between the exams barring government holidays.

“It is no longer possible to hold exams over one and a half months. We had given exams that lasted just five days.

“The procedure must change. There will be no gaps except in case of closures. Students have to prepare themselves while in school,” he had said.

The announcement had created mixed reaction among students. They had held demonstrations in several parts of Bangladesh in protest against the plan.

Later, on Sept 7, the minister said in Parliament that the issue was under the consideration of the government.

After the controversy, the Inter Educational Board Co-ordinating Sub-committee has propped a 39-day SSC exam for the theoretical papers.

So far, the education ministry has been fixing the schedule on the basis of the committee’s proposals.

But the ministry has sought public opinion on the issue for the first time since the controversy.

Views can be sent to ds_sec1@moedu.gov.bd until Nov 1.

Chairman of the Inter-Educational Board Co-ordination Sub-committee Prof Taslima Begum told bdnews24.com, “We have sent the proposed schedule of the SSC exam to the ministry. It will take the final decision.”

When asked why opinions were being sought, she said: “That’s the ministry’s affair.”

Deputy Secretary Kader said, “The opinions are being sought following the secretary’s directive.”