Uncertainty over SSC, HSC exams

Education Minister Dipu Moni is likely to hold a press conference this week to brief about this year's SSC and HSC examinations that have been pending due to Covid-19 induced school closure.

The minister will hold a press conference in this regard soon, Prof Nehal Ahmed, chairman of Dhaka Education Board, told The Daily Star yesterday evening.

Officials said they would try their best to hold the exams. But they are also considering alternatives like evaluating students based on their results of previous public exams and assignments. 

They are also thinking of taking the exam, reducing subjects and marks.

Usually SSC and HSC exams take place in February and April each year. But education boards could not hold the exams this year as all educational institutions are closed since March 17, 2020.

The closure has been extended till July 31.

On June 13, Dipu Moni said the government is considering alternatives to SSC and HSC exams if it is not possible to conduct those even with a brief syllabus.

HSC results can be prepared after coordinating 50 percent of the SSC and 25 percent of JSC results, and 25 percent based on assignments. SSC results can be prepared based on 50 percent of JSC results and 50 percent assignments, they said.

"Nothing is final. Even holding exams is not final. We are working on several options… we will announce it soon," said Prof Syed Md Golam Faruk, director general of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), last week.

The government could conduct the SSC exams just before closing of all educational institutions on March 17 last year, but it was not possible to hold the HSC exams.

The HSC examinees were eventually promoted last year based on the previous two public exams -- SSC and JSC.