Viral clips capture HSC students' anger, anxiety, and divided views

Over the past few days, a number of videos circulating on social media have captured the anger, anxiety, and divided opinions of HSC examinees over the ongoing tests and their question patterns, and the role of the education ministry.

The videos surfaced during demonstrations by examinees in Dhaka and several districts over their three demands, including the resignation of Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon.

In one video, a student of Siddheswari Girls' College, during a protest in the Dhaka University area, said, "On the day of the Bangla first paper exam, I studied 11,000 MCQs, but only three MCQs were common."

She further said, "The questions are set in such a way that students have no option but to memorise. The education system should be changed. Why can't drawing, singing, or other creative work become professions? Why should they be treated only as hobbies?"

In another video, another female student said the students were demonstrating for changes in the education system.

"We have sat here for a change in our education system. After six to seven years, exams are being held on the full syllabus. Considering that, their question pattern should have been such that we do not become nervous or fall sick. Many students fell sick during the physics exam. Why should an exam be like this?" she said.

In another video widely shared on social media, a female student was seen telling journalists, "You used to act as brokers of the Awami League, now you are acting as brokers of the BNP. We sat for exams standing in waist-deep water. Where were you then?"

Another viral video showed students chanting, "Who are you, who am I? Farm chickens", apparently referring to an earlier viral call recording in which Milon was reportedly heard comparing students demanding postponement of the ongoing HSC examinations to broiler chickens.

In one video, some students were seen expressing anger and saying, "Tell Tarique Rahman to remove the blindfold."

In the same video, a student was heard saying, "The government will fall. '24 [2024 uprising] will happen again."

In another video, a student demanded the resignation of the education minister, saying, "If the board makes mistakes in the question, then what kind of education minister is he?"

In another viral clip, a Habibullah Bahar College student was heard addressing Milon as "honourable prime minister" and saying, "We want Milon sir's resignation."

A Dhaka City College student, as another video showed, linked the protest to the difficulty of the physics question, saying, "The question was of admission standard. If the second paper question is like the physics first paper exam, we will have to choose the path of movement."

The student further said the exams of all boards should have been postponed together, considering the adverse weather and flooding in many areas.

However, not all students opposed the question pattern.

In another video, a student of Motijheel Government Boys' College said, "Milon sir prepared good questions. Those who want to pass by cheating will not be able to do well on this question. Sir may have thought that only those who study should get good results."

Another student said, "Although Milon sir created panic, the question was standard."

Similar thoughts were shared by many students in numerous videos making the rounds on social media platforms.

The videos emerged after HSC examinees staged demonstrations in Dhaka, Chattogram, and several other districts on 14 and 15 July over the government's decision to continue the examinations despite adverse weather conditions.

Students sitting for HSC exams also blocked all four lanes of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Uttara for many hours yesterday (15 July), a day after similar demonstrations at that spot and in different districts over their three demands, which include suspension of tests until weather conditions improve and allowing retake for affected candidates.

The students had announced that they would demonstrate today (16 July) as well, but there has been no report of such a protest anywhere in the country after the government, barring the education minister's resignation, met their other two demands, and the weather situation improved naturally.

The blockade had brought traffic on the highway to a standstill in both directions, with vehicles heading towards central Dhaka and Gazipur unable to pass.