Next SSC exam in June, HSC in July or August
Education institutions will reopen for the exam candidates from February if Covid situation improves
The education ministry is planning to hold the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination in June and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) in July or August next near if the Covid situation turns to normal.
The SSC and HSC exams 2021 were earlier scheduled for 1 February and 1 April, respectively.
The SSC and HSC syllabuses will be customised, focusing on important topics.
"The SSC students will get time from February to April to complete their syllabus and the HSC students from February to May," Education Minister Dipu Moni said at a virtual press briefing on Tuesday.
She also said the HSC 2020 results will be announced after passing an ordinance likely in the first week of January.
More than 13 lakh HSC students will get their results on the basis of their JSC and SSC results.
The registration fees taken from the HSC examinees will be sent back to them after publishing the HSC results.
About 20 lakh students will take the next year's SSC and equivalent tests and another 13 lakh the HSC tests.
Dipu Moni said the Junior School Certificate (JSC) exam certificates will be distributed in the last week of January 2021 but the results will carry no GPA.
"Educational institutions will reopen for the candidates of public examinations from February provided that the Covid situation improves," added the minister.
Referring to the customised syllabuses, Dipu Moni said, "The work to shorten the syllabuses is under way, and details will be announced by 15 January next year."
On books distribution in schools on 1 January, she said this has turned out to be a festival every year, but due to the ongoing Covid situation this is not going to take place this year.
Books will be distributed among the students within 12 days of the new year and they have to go to schools three days to collect the new books by turns as a part of maintaining social distancing to avoid transmission.
On 31 December, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the book distribution programme for the next academic year.
Dipu Moni urged the educational institutions to refrain from charging unnecessary fees from their students. "We will take stern action if anyone violates the ministry order," she said.
The schools will pick students through a lottery to avoid hassles and risks due to the pandemic.
"Discriminations will also be reduced as every institution will get students of average quality through the lottery system," she said.
"We will provide an identity number to each student instead of a class roll number. As a result, the uneven competition will decrease in schools. We are also planning to give a lifelong identity card.
"We will continue the online education besides in-person classes," added the minister.
The government is also mulling over establishing at least one university in each district and dissolving honours and master's courses in colleges completely.
About dope testing, Dipu Moni said this should be obligatory for students to enroll in any educational institutions, but is yet to be decided on when to start.
"We have trained 65 teachers and employees on nutrition. We have also taken an initiative to train them about mental and sexual health," said the minister.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Ministry Md Zakir Hossain, Secretary (Secondary and Higher Education) to the education ministry Md Mahbub Hossain, Secretary to the technical and madrasa education ministry Md Aminul Islam Khan, among others, spoke at the meeting.
On 16 March, the Ministry of Education issued a press release, announcing the government decision to close all educational institutions and coaching centres from 18 March to 31 March, taking into consideration the students' safety amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the circumstances, the Primary Education Completion, Ebtedayee, JSC, Junior Dakhil Certificate and HSC examinations were cancelled this year.
The government has already announced its decision to promote PEC and JSC examinees to the next grade without holding examinations.
The education ministry has extended the closure of all academic institutions several times – last till January 16.