Staff Reporter :
The Education Ministry has decided to keep coaching centres closed across the country for a month from January 27 with a view to preventing leak of question papers during the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations.
Education Minister Dipu Moni issued an order after a meeting of the National Monitoring and Law and Order Committee on the upcoming SSC and its equivalent examinations at the ministry on Sunday.
Minister of State for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury also attended the meeting, among others.
“This year all coaching centres across the country must be closed from January 27 to Februay 27,” the minister said.
During the SSC examinations, no one will be allowed to use mobile phone except the secretary of the examination centers, she said adding that the secretary can only use feature phones, which are unable to capture any photo.
Last year the government shuttered coaching centres three days before the examinations amid widespread allegations of question paper leaks.
This year 2,573,851 students will sit for the secondary school completion examinations at 4,964 centres, Dipu Moni said.
The SSC theory examinations are to be held from February 2 to February 25. The practical examination for Music is to be held on February 26, while the other practical exams will be held between February 27 and March 12.
The examinees will first sit for the multiple choice question (MCQ) section of the test and then the essay/creative section.
All students are required to be at the examination centre at least a half-hour before the start of the exam, the education minister said.
