The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams kicked off to a smooth start on Thursday, reports UNB.
The exams began at 11:00 am instead of 10:00 am, considering the usual traffic jams in the peak morning hours.
In Dhaka, several exam centres witnessed a large gathering of parents, triggering traffic chaos in the vicinity.
This year, some 20,21,868 students have registered themselves to take the SSC and equivalent exams, 2,21,386 less than that of last year.
Moreover, the exams will be held for two hours instead of the usual three hours this year, and the duration of the MCQ exam is 20 minutes while that of the written exam is 1 hour and 40 minutes.
As per the schedule, the SSC and equivalent examinations will end on October 18.
Some 15,99,711 candidates sat for the SSC exams under nine general education boards, 2,68,495 for Dakhil exams under Madrasa Education Board and 1,53,662 for vocational exams under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board this year.
Some 3,790 centres have been set up for the SSC exams across the country.
The SSC and equivalent examinations under all education boards scheduled to begin on June 19 were deferred due to the flood situation in the country.
Earlier, it was deferred for about four months because of the pandemic. Usually, the SSC exams take place in February.
Coaching centres will remain closed across the country until October 2.
Bdnews24.com adds: the SSC and equivalent examinations will revert to the usual format in 2023, with students being assessed on the full syllabus, according to education officials.
In light of the disruptions to learning, the tests are based on an abridged curriculum and the exam duration has also been reduced to two hours.
However, the Ministry of Education plans to return to the pre-pandemic schedule as a slowdown in the spread of COVID-19 has allowed for classes to be conducted normally.
"The exam schedule will be brought forward next year. Prior to the pandemic, the SSC exams used to start in January. Even if we can't do that, there are plans to start the exams in March," Abu Bakr Siddique, secretary of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, told reporters while visiting an exam centre in Dhaka on Thursday.
Tapan Kumar Sarkar, president of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Sub-Committee, said the Higher Secondary Certificate and equivalent exams may also be delayed by a month next year.
The exams, however, will be held on the full syllabus in 2023, he added, urging students to prepare accordingly.
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