MOST news reports showcase the woes of the candidates of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams as they are deemed as the worst victims of the current political unrest ahead of the exams set to begin on February 2. By now, they have already been hugely disturbed that hampered their last moment preparation too badly. To add to the already bad situation, the examinees are further worried whether the authorities are able to take exams in an undisturbed environment, free from political troubles.
Apart from the upcoming SSC examinations, regular classes in schools, colleges and universities are also being affected due to the hartal-blockade that effectively hit the country since January 03 according to news reports. Examinees, teachers and guardians spoke of their frustrations at the prevailing confrontational political situations and said they were worried about the security of their children wondering how the SSC examinees will go to the exam centres and return home during restive situation.
Reports further mentioned that as BNP kept English medium ‘O level’ and ‘A level’ exams out of the purview of hartal on Thursday, teachers and guardians want them to do the same for SSC exams. BNP and its allies have, however, vowed to continue the political programmes until the government agrees to fresh polls under a neutral administration.
Meanwhile, top officials of the education ministry said they had no option but to hold the exams on schedule for smooth continuation of the academic calendar. The Information Minister warned that the government will take stern action if the examinations are disturbed in any way. Both the ministers urged all political parties to call off all kinds of programmes during the SSC examinations. Board officials said this year about 15 lakh examinees from more than 27,500 institutions are expected to take the exams at 2,900 centres across the country. In other words, the government is determined to go on with its schedule of holding the examination on come what may basis putting the youngers life in most insecurity, exposing them to mental fear.
For making the situation ideal for holding the exam in calm and fear free way what the government needs to do is set aside all the unnecessary political impasse and hold a dialogue between the opposition leader and government leader so that they can come to a pragmatic solution to all the chaos.
Unfortunately, they are not to heed to any good advice at all. They simply want to consider everything as a law and order problem and fix things with the police help only.
It is our considered view that these (over a million) young learners – male and female – should not be forced out to sit for the examination with the psychic fear of insecurity while they are also not fully prepared to take the most important public examination which virtually sets in the career path of the budding learners. It should be deferred until the country is back to normalcy.
