M M Jasim :The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations-2016 began under 10 Education Boards on Sunday. At least 12,887 students were absent on the first day, while 43 students were expelled for committing irregularities in the examination halls. However, no news of question paper leakage was reported. According to the HSC examinations routine, examination of Bangla first paper was held from 10am to 1pm while Bangla second paper will be held on April 5 (Tuesday). The examinations will end on June 9. The practical tests will be held from June 11 to June 20.A total of 12,18,628 examinees registered their names to take part in the examinations from 8,533 educational institutions. Of the total examinees, 6,54,114 are males and 5,64,514 are females. The Education Ministry sources said 32 students were expelled in Technical Education Board, Eight in Madrasah Board, one in Rajshahi Board, one in Jessore Board, one in Dinajpur Board and two in other boards. The absent students on the first day of the examinations are 2,211 in Dhaka Board, 1,276 in Rajshahi Board, 1,445 in Comilla Board, 1,358 in Jessore Board, 857 in Chittagong Board, 737 in Sylhet Board, 671 in Barisal Board, 1,048 in Dinajpur Board, 1,796 in Madrasah Board and 1,488 in Tehnical Board. Meanwhile, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid visited the Siddheshwari Girls’ College centre on the first day of HSC examinations on Sunday. The Minister said, the government is considering to reduce the duration of the public examinations for various reasons.”If an examination runs for a longer period, the applicants sometimes suffer from anxieties, while many educational institutions remain closed for an unusual time. More importantly, we have to ensure security to check question paper leak,” he said.Nurul Islam Nahid said, “The Education Ministry is looking for a way how to reduce duration of examinations. The Ministry needs the cooperation of guardians to do that.”Coaching centres, photocopy shops and Facebook have been brought under the scanner to prevent question paper leak in the HSC and its equivalent examinations, the Minister said.He said, the government has taken all-out preparations to hold the HSC and its equivalent examinations in a peaceful and copy-free environment.Tight security measures have been taken to prevent question papers leak, said Nahid. He, however, expressed his concerned that a particular quarter is trying to destroy the examination-friendly atmosphere by advertising the rumour of question paper leakage.Asking all to stay alert against such rumours, he said tight surveillance has also been put in place in the process of question paper printing and transportation.The Education Minister said the law enforcers like Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Detective Branch (DB) of Police are performing their duties to ensure a congenial atmosphere for the examinations.
