SSC timetable may be revised if stakeholders seek review, says education minister

The education authorities could backtrack on its decision to hold the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations from Jan 7 next year and reschedule if stakeholders demand a revision.

At the Secretariat on Tuesday, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said the examinations were brought forward by a month because of Ramadan, although the original plan had been to hold them in the last week of February.

He added that some have since suggested completing the exams after Ramadan, and that the ministry has been working through consultations with stakeholders.

Addressing criticism of the revised timetable on social media, Milon said the government could review the decision should public opinion favour a change.

According to him, the Ministry of Education is connected to a large section of the population, and the current BNP-led administration prioritises public sentiment before arriving at decisions.

Milon announced on May 14 that the SSC and equivalent examinations for next year would be held at the beginning of January, triggering debate among educationists, students and parents.

While academics and former and current officials in the education administration lauded the initiative as a welcome step to “save time” from the academic lives of the students, the sudden shift has left current 10th graders and their parents anxiety-ridden.

These examinees, who previously studied under a curriculum introduced by the then Awami League administration from Class 6 to 8, had to adapt to the 2010 curriculum upon entering classes 9 and 10.

They also received their Class 9 textbooks later than expected during the interim government's tenure and had been preparing to sit the SSC and equivalent examinations in April 2027. 

Many parents and candidates now fear that bringing the exams forward could affect nearly 2 million students. 

Some mental health specialists have also warned that such a sudden change may have long-term psychological consequences for a large number of examinees.