The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will begin simultaneously across the country today (Thursday) as all nine general education boards introduce a uniform set of question papers for this year's examinations.
Around 1.27 million candidates from 9,439 educational institutions will sit for the examinations at 2,697 centres under nine general education boards, the Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board and the Bangladesh Technical Education Board.
The information was disclosed by Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleque at a press briefing at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday. Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and the Prime Minister's Adviser on Education Mahdi Amin were also present.
The education minister said all nine general education boards will use a uniform set of question papers this year.
CCTV cameras have been installed at all examination centres, while a central monitoring cell has been established at the Ministry of Education to oversee examination activities in real time nationwide, he said.
Police officers deployed at examination centres will have body-worn cameras to help prevent any untoward incidents, he added.
The minister also said candidates from the Seventh-day Adventist community will be allowed to take examinations scheduled on Saturdays after sunset under special arrangements.
Secretary Abdul Khaleque said the examinations will cover 77 subjects over 21 examination days, while regular classes will continue at educational institutions on days when no examinations are scheduled.
He said authorities have cancelled examination centres previously identified as vulnerable to question paper leaks or cheating. However, centres in haor areas, the Chattogram Hill Tracts and remote char regions have been retained considering the transportation difficulties faced by students.
Of the candidates under the nine general education boards, 621,969 are male and 648,614 are female, with female candidates outnumbering males by 26,645.
A total of 1,069,714 candidates will sit for the examinations under the nine general education boards this year, up by 14,316 from last year. The number of participating institutions has increased by 77, while the number of examination centres has risen by 21.
The Bangladesh Madrasa Education Board has 92,905 candidates this year, an increase of 6,803 from last year. The number of institutions under the board has increased by 23 and examination centres by two.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Technical Education Board has 107,964 candidates, 1,647 fewer than last year. The number of examination centres under the board has also fallen by 123 to 610.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
