The chairmen of all education boards will sit on Thursday (September 24) to come up with specific proposals on Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations and other issues delayed by coronavirus pandemic.
“The board chairmen will meet on September 24 to discuss the HSC examination, admission to class XI and starting the class and some specific proposals will be made,” Chairman of Rajshahi education board Prof Mokbul Hossain told Bangladesh Post.
The proposals will be forwarded to the Ministry of Education for finalization, he added. Asked on the proposal, Prof Mokbul said, “Time to reopen educational institutions depends on the Covid-19 situation. We also depend on health ministry’s guideline putting student’s safety first.” The meeting will be held at the conference of Dhaka Education Board, according to the sources of inter-education board coordination sub-committee.
Since the coronavirus first reported in the country on March 8, the government announce closure of all educational institutions from March 17 and extended the holidays till October 3 in phases.
Later the education ministry postponed the HSC and equivalent examinations, scheduled to begin on April 1.
As no conducive environment is yet to prevail over the past five and a half months, the exams remain on hold.
Meanwhile, the education boards said they may announce a new routine for the HSC and equivalent examinations after reopening of institutions.
No decision is yet to take on a new schedule, said Prof Ziaul Haque said, chairman of Inter-Education Board Coordination Sub-Committee Chairman and Dhaka Education Board.
Prof Mokbul, however, said, “The new routine will be announced at least 15 days prior to the examination. So that, both examinees and teachers get enough time to prepare.”
No new schedule would be announced until educational institutions reopens, he insisted.
As many 1.2 million students are now passing days in uncertainty as the pandemic delays their exams.
According to education board officials, authorities plan to conduct exams following a 'Z' shape at the test centres to comply with the hygiene rules and ensure social distancing.
Per ‘Z’ shape, if two students sit on the first bench at an exam room, one will be on the second bench and it follows.
The Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) began gathering information on how many test centres would be required to hold the exam in line with the ‘Z’ shape method.
