Public examinations will now take less time than before as the government looks to increase academic hours.

Secondary school students are increasingly turning to guidebooks and private tuition due to heavy curriculum and complex textbooks, say leading academics and educationists. The question papers of public examinations at secondary level are faulty and of low standard, they said at a view-exchange meeting yesterday.

Education Minister Nahid orders schools to refund in 7 days extra money taken from SSC candidates. Stern action awaits defaulters, he warns.

The government has taken stern steps against question paper “leak” for the upcoming JSC tests that will begin from November 1, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid says.

Detectives claim detention of a mastermind and five others over HSC question leak, answer paper tempering and online cheating.