Nahid says he saw question paper leaks at the time of his matric tests in 1961

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, who has faced criticism over question paper leaks in public exams throughout the year, says these are nothing new as he saw questions leaks even when he sat for matriculation tests around six decades ago.

“I said this many times before – it seems that the question paper leak is a modern phenomenon and it did not happen before.

“I have been seeing question paper leaks since I sat for the matric tests (now SSC) in 1961. Just imagine, 1961!

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid

“The leaks and sale of leaked question papers were there at that time. But, it was very limited; it was there,” the minister said.    

He thinks the news of question paper leaks now spread fast in this era of online social media.

The minister was defending the government efforts to stop question paper leaks in reply to reporters’ queries on the issue at a press conference on the publication of JSC and JDC exams results at the secretariat in Dhaka on Saturday.

“You don’t need to raise the issue today. I think it’s a different issue. You are writing about it and will write more while we will continue speaking (about govt efforts),” he said.

Nahid said the spread of the leaked question papers and anything on the issue on the social media has made it more visible.

“When someone writes that question papers have been leaked, even if it is not true, that will be publicised much. That’s the issue is blown out of proportion,” he said.

About the steps taken by the government to stop leaks, he said, “It was easier to leak the question papers from the BG Press even two months before the exams. But now, you must have noticed the question papers are leaked in the morning before the exams.    

“This is our achievement. There is no option of question paper leaks from the BG Press now,” he said. 

“But problems remain even after this. Many people have entered the teacher’s profession. They are abusing it (the profession),” he added, blaming the teachers for the recent leaks once again.

Asked why pass rates in JSC and JDC tests dropped along with the number of examinees and GPA-5 scorers this year, Nahid said, “I am not going to evaluate these issues now. The education boards and the ministry will investigate these separately. Then we will get the real picture.”    

He also claimed the quality of education rose in Bangladesh but not ‘as expected’.