About 13 lakh higher secondary certificate or HSC examinees in the country face uncertainty over their future as they do not yet know whether their examinations will be held.
This year’s HSC and equivalent examinations were postponed in March due to coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis which were scheduled to start from April 1. The examinees have been waiting for four consecutive months since then.
The Dhaka Education Board Chairman Prof ZiaulHaque said that the routine will be published as soon as the colleges are opened. He also mentioned that no HSC exam would be held until corona situation becomes safe or normal.
However, there is also uncertainty about the new routine of HSC and other equivalent examinations as the educational institutions still remain undecided on whether to reopen largely due to the coronavirus infection. Although many had predicted that the educational institutes would reopen after the Eid festival holidays but it seems that the authorities are not yet decided.
The government on Wednesday extended the ongoing holidays of all educational institutions in the country till August 31 considering the overall safety of the students.
Mohammad AbulKhair, public relations officer of the Ministry of Education, confirmed it to Bangladesh Post on Wednesday afternoon, saying, “The ministry has taken the decision at an emergency meeting considering the overall safety of the students.”
Meanwhile, HSC candidates and their parents said that the rhythm of exam preparation and continuity of study have been disrupted for the uncertainty over holding of the examinations.
Ripa Islam, mother of NusratJahan, an HSC candidate from RajukUttara Model College while sharing her disappointments said, “It is very frustrating when the exam dates keep changing. I had my daughter fully prepared for the exams but it is now uncertain when would they hold the exams.”
Nurul Hassan Mamun, a guardian of a student of Motijheel Ideal School and College, said, “The examination has been postponed and the students are getting tired for staying in house all the time. The children are also upset. In fact, there is nothing to do, we also understand that.”
However, it is learnt that the HSC exam-2020 will not be held before the situation becomes normal. The Ministry of Education is also in a strong position on this decision to ensure public health safety and security.
The Ministry sources said, “The corona situation is not favorable as yet. We are still in an uncertain destination. The rate of infection is high. If the rate of infection shows a considerable down trend and the number of deaths reaches zero, it will be understood that the pandemic has been brought under control.”
In this regard, Dhaka Board of Education Chairman Prof ZiaulHaque said, “It is almost impossible to take HSC exam during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thousands of students, their parents, teachers and staff will gather for reasonable reasons during exams across the country. There is a risk of the virus spreading to more people in this case.”
“Therefore, HSC exams will not be held before the situation becomes normal. We cannot put our children at the slightest risk,” he added.
