The education ministry has decided to reopen educational institutions in a limited scale from February next year and start classes formally if the covid-19 situation improves.
Besides, the ministry has set a target to conduct next year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations in June and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations from July to August of 2021.
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni came up with the assertion while addressing a virtual press conference on textbook distribution-2021 and contemporary issues on Tuesday (December 29).
She said, “Preparations have been taken to reopen educational institutions by February 2021 on a limited scale to prepare for next year’s SSC and HSC examinations. A preparatory test will be taken after finishing the unfinished syllabus of the respective classes in the classroom. During this time, students of these two levels will be prepared to participate in the public examinations.”
The education minister also said, “If it is possible to reopen educational institution in February, SSC and equivalent examinations will be held in June next year. Then HSC examination will be conducted in July-August.”
“However, as the educational institution has been closed for a long time due to the Corona situation, students could not take preparations. Thus, the syllabus of next year’s SSC and HSC candidates will be shortened and classes will be held based on short syllabus,” she added.
“National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) members will prepare the short syllabus of SSC and HSC in this regard. The new syllabus will be published by January 31,” she added.
About the HSC results, Dipu Moni said, “We have already prepared the HSC and equivalent examinations results. Ordinances have to be issued for publication during special circumstances. The ordinance will be issued in the first week of January 2021. HSC results will be published after issuing the ordinance.”
About textbook distribution, she said, “We will not distribute textbooks on a same day like previous years. Free textbooks will be distributed among the students in phases. I hope, all the students of primary and secondary level will get new textbooks by January 15.”
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain said, “We have already prepared 10.82 crore books for primary level students and 33 lakh books for the pre-primary level students. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate free textbook distribution programme on December 31. After that we will start distributing books from January 1 in phases.”
Among others, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Secondary and Higher Education Md Mahabub Hossain, Technical and Madrasa Education Division Secretary Aminul Islam, Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Professor Syed Md Golam Faruk, NCTB Chairman Professor Narayan Chandra Saha, Chairmen of different Education Boards, were also attended the conference.
