SSC exam in March due to Roza: Education Minister

Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon has informed that although there was a plan to take the SSC exam at the beginning of next year the decision has been taken to postpone it to March due to Ramadan.

He said this at a press conference organised at the meeting room of the Technical and Madrasah Education Division of the Ministry of Education at noon on Monday.

The education minister said the overall matters have been considered in fixing the schedule of the SSC exam. If the exam starts in January it will continue for one month and stretch till the first week of February. After that Ramadan will start from February 10 and continue till March 10. As a result it is not possible to take the exam during this time.

He said organising all public exams at a specific time is the goal of the government. Although the SSC exam is generally held in the rainy or monsoon season now the plan is being made to bring the exam within a specific time. The matter of organising the university admission tests also at a specific time by coordinating with the SSC exam is being considered.

The education minister said February is being considered the most suitable time for the SSC exam for Bangladesh considering everything. However it is not possible to take the exam in February this time due to Ramadan.

Earlier on May 14 the education minister had informed that the SSC exam of next year will start on January 7. But the examinees and guardians criticised this plan as Roza and Eid fall during that time. Later on June 2 he said the schedule of SSC and equivalent exams may be re-fixed if the stakeholders want.

The schedule of the SSC exam of next year was published on August 24. According to the schedule, the theoretical exam will start from March 14 and continue till April 15.

Regarding why the plan of advancing the exam was dropped the education minister said the matter of advancing the exam was considered at the request of the concerned stakeholders. But due to this there is not adequate opportunity for the students of class nine to review their studies. Yet this review is important for them.

He said if the exam is taken after Ramadan it becomes quite delayed. Again if the exam is taken in January the students of class nine will not get adequate time for reviewing their studies. Therefore the decision has been taken considering all sides that the SSC exam will be taken after Ramadan.

Rejecting the possibility of further postponing the exam the education minister said, ‘For the time being no reason of postponing the exam is being seen. There is no reason of postponing the exam at present if no special situation is created at the national level.’

He further said adequate time has been given for the preparation of the students. They were informed about the exam almost one and a half years ago and they are preparing accordingly.