If the situation is favourable, SSC exams may be held in June and HSC in July or August

RN Desk:Education Minister Dipu Moni has said that all educational institutions in the country may reopen in February next year.

Addressing an online press conference on Tuesday afternoon, she said classes could be held from February to May if the coronavirus situation was under control.

The authorities will try to complete the syllabus in this time frame.

The minister also said that the next Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations might be held after a shortening of the syllabus.

She said work was underway to shorten the syllabus. The details would be announced by January 15.

If the situation is favourable, SSC exams of 2021 may be held in June next year and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams in July or August.

Under existing laws, there is no provision of announcing results without examinations being conducted.

Therefore, a special ordinance has to be issued for declaring the results of the HSC exams of 2020. The ordinance is likely to be issued in the first week of January and the results will be announced soon after.

An eight-member advisory committee is already working to prepare the results based on the previous results of students.

The minister also said that after getting the results if anyone thought there was any anomaly or that they were supposed to get better results, they could appeal for a recheck.

ID numbers to replace roll numbers

The government will introduce ID numbers for school students, which will replace the existing roll number system to stop unfair competition. “This will increase the attitude of cooperation among the students,” said Dipu Moni.

She said: “School students will no longer have roll numbers. Each student will be given a unique ID number. Attendance will be taken based on that.”

“Students are being taught online and through Sangsad TV and assignments. Around 87% of them have been reached.

“Even if educational institutions reopen, online classes and assignment activities will continue amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic,” the minister added.

Free textbook distribution on Jan 1

The education minister said that in the upcoming year, not all students would receive new books on January 1.

Free books would be distributed among students of a particular class in three parts over three days, said Dipu Moni, adding that this time the whole process would take 12 days. “Students will have to come to their respective educational institutions and take the books while maintaining health safety guidelines.”

Dipu Moni said: ‘For the past 10 years, new books had been distributed among students on the first day of a new year. It had become a festival for us. But this time, due to Covid-19, it will not be possible for us to arrange such festivities.”

“The unused amount collected as the form fill up fees for HSC exams this time will be returned,” the minister said adding that the matter of introducing dope tests for university admissions is under consideration by the government.

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain said: “We have completed all necessary preparations to hand over new books to our students on January 1. This time, around 30 million books will be distributed at the primary level.”

JSC, JDC certificates by Jan

The Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) examinations were not held this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“As it was decided they would be promoted automatically, the certificates for JSC and JDC will be issued by January next,” said Dhaka Education Board Chairman Nehal Ahmed.