Amid fears of COVID and dengue, a total of 12,51,111 students from 11 education boards across the country will sit for the HSC and equivalent exams this Thursday (June 26). The exams will begin at 10:00 AM with the Bengali First Paper.
The written exams for nine general and madrasa boards will end on August 10. The practical exams will take place from August 11 to August 28.
The theoretical exams for the HSC Vocational and Diploma in Commerce under the Technical Education Board will continue until July 17, and practical exams for these will run from July 18 to 24.
The HSC and equivalent exams for 2025 will follow the revised or condensed syllabus of 2023. The education boards had previously announced that the exams will be conducted in full marks and full time for all subjects.
On Thursday, the students sitting for exams under the nine general education boards, madrasa board, and technical education board will include 6,18,015 male students and 6,33,096 female students.
They will take the exams at 2,797 centers in 9,314 educational institutions. Compared to the previous year, the number of candidates this year has decreased by 81,882 students.
In light of the increasing COVID and dengue infections, the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee has issued guidelines to ensure health safety.
Professor S.M. Kamal Uddin Haider, the convener of the Inter-Education Board Exam Control Committee and the Controller of Exams at Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, said that in order to protect students from COVID-19, wearing masks will be mandatory for everyone when entering the exam centers.
Additionally, hand sanitizers will be provided at the entrance of each center. To prevent the spread of dengue, centers must maintain cleanliness, and the centers must follow health guidelines strictly.
Since 2010, the SSC exams have been held in the first week of February, and the HSC exams in the first week of April. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this schedule was changed.
Due to the virus's spread, the HSC exams of 2020 were canceled, and students were awarded certificates without exams. After that, the exams in 2021 and 2022 were conducted with a shortened syllabus.
Quick Facts:
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According to the ministry's data, last year, 13,32,520 students took exams under the nine general education boards, madrasa board, and technical education board.
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This year, 12,51,111 students will sit for the HSC and equivalent exams under the 11 education boards.
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In the general education boards, 10,55,398 students will take the HSC exams.
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A total of 4,91,284 male students and 5,64,114 female students will sit for the exams.
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These students will take the exams in 1,605 centers across 4,808 institutions.
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The number of students taking the HSC exams has decreased by 72,883 compared to last year.
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Under the madrasa education board, 86,102 students will take the Alim exams, including 46,628 male students and 39,474 female students.
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These students will sit for the exams at 459 centers in 2,682 madrasas.
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The number of Alim candidates has decreased by 1,974 this year.
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Under the Technical Education Board, 1,09,611 students will participate in the HSC Vocational and Diploma in Commerce exams, including 80,103 male students and 29,508 female students.
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These students will take the exams at 733 centers in 1,824 institutions.
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The number of students in the Technical Education Board has decreased by 7,025.
According to the Information Directorate, students must enter the exam centers at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam. After this time, no student will be allowed to enter the center. If a student enters late due to unavoidable reasons, their name, roll number, time of entry, and the reason for the delay must be recorded and reported to the center's officer and the relevant board each day. Additionally, if exams are delayed in any room due to natural disasters, students will be given extra time equivalent to the delay.
The instructions provided to exam centers include:
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Wearing masks is mandatory for all involved (students, staff) while entering the exam center.
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Hand sanitizers must be placed at the center’s entrance.
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The center must be kept clean and free from mosquitoes to prevent the spread of dengue.
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Mosquito repellent spray must be used inside the exam center before the exam begins, with the help of local authorities.
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Seating arrangements should maintain a 3-foot distance between candidates.
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A medical team must be present at each center.
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Students should be encouraged to adhere to health protocols, and gatherings of parents outside the center should be discouraged.
Professor Kamal Uddin Haider emphasized that instructions regarding seating arrangements with 3 feet distance, having one invigilator for every 20 students, and two invigilators in each room have been given every year. Reminders have been sent to the center’s officers this year as well.
In order to ensure a smooth and cheating-free environment, the Ministry of Education has instructed that all coaching centers be closed until August 15.
Also, during the exam period, the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices is prohibited within 200 yards of the exam center, as per usual regulations.
While it was customary for colleges used as exam centers to close classes during exams, this year, these institutions can hold classes during breaks between the exams.
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