Some 31,447 examinees remained absent on the first day of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams on Sunday across the country.
Besides, a total of 20 students were expelled for using illegal means in the examinations.
The first examinations of the SSC and its equivalent were held under a total of 11 education boards. Of them, nine are general education boards, one is a madrasa board and another is a Technical and Vocational Board. The exams were held peacefully without any untoward incident.
No incidents of leaking out of question papers was reported so far, although such incident happened frequently in the previous years.
The exams of SSC and its equivalent were started at 10:00am under nine educational boards, a Madra Board and a Technical and Vocational Board. On the first, the students sat for the examinations of Bengali 1st paper. The exam continued till 1:00pm.
According to information centre of the Ministry of Education, a total of 15,08,819 students of the SSC under nine educational boards were supposed to take part in the examination. But 14,91,627 of them took part in the exam as 17,192 others remained absent.
Among the absent examinees, the highest 4,222 were from Dhaka Educational Board, 1,607 from Chattogram, 1,720 from Rajshahi, 1,026 from Barishal, 940 from Sylhet, 2,247 from Dinajpur, 2,618 from Cumilla, 978 from Mymensingh and 1,834 from Jashore board. Besides, a total of 2,65,102 students were supposed take part in the Dhakil exams under the Madrasa Board, but only 2,53,719 of them took part as the rest 11,383 others remained absent.
Moreover, under the Technical and Vocational Board, a total of 1,19,595 students were supposed to take part in the exams, but 1,16,723 of them were present as 2,872 remained absent.
Among the expelled students, 4 were the SSC examinees, 5 were Dakhil (Madrasa) examinees and the rest 11 were the examinees under the Technical and Vocational Board.
Education Minister Dipu Moni and Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury visited the Badda High School test centre in Dhaka to check if everything was up to the mark.
Besides, Close Circuit Television Camera (CCTVs) cameras have been installed inside all centers this year for the first time to ensure fairness and beautiful environment.
Officials said the installation of CCTVs will help monitoring the exam process.
Moreover, all the educational boards and the Ministry of Education have taken special cautionary measures to check the leak out of the question papers.
In order to ensure a fair and peaceful environment no one except the candidates are allowed within 200 yards of the examination halls during the examinations.
Dipu Moni said that the examinations are being held on a short syllabus this year.
According to the Ministry of Education, this year the number of examinees has been increased 50,295 compared to last year. Besides, the number of female students have also been increased this year.
Each of the students must pass the Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) and Essay type or Creative separately. Candidates can use simple scientific calculator. No one can use the mobile phone in the examination center except the secretary of the exam centre.
Only the students with special needs will get extra time for 20 minutes in the exams.
Candidates suffering from autistic, down syndrome, cerebral palsy have been given the opportunity to take the exam with the special supports of the teachers, parents or helping hands.
The written exams of the SSC candidates will conclude on May 23 and the practical exams will be held from May 24 to May 30.
Besides, the exams of Dakhil candidates will be concluded on May 25 and their practical exams will be held from May 27 to June 3.
These examinees are taking part in the examinations from a total of 17,786 schools. They are taking part in the exams at 2,244 centres.
Besides, the Dakhil students are taking part in the exams from 9,085 madrasas and their exams are being held at 716 centres.
Moreover, the students of Technical and Vocational boards are taking part in the exams from 2,927 educational institutions and at 850 centres.
