The SSC examinations will be held in November and the HSC exams in December if the Covid situation improves, the government announced on Thursday allaying to some extent worries of around 36 lakh students as well as their guardians. Usually, the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations take place in February and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent exams in April. The pandemic forced the government to postpone the exams, severely disrupting the academic life of the students.
The government wants to hold the SSC and its equivalent examinations in the second week of November and the HSC and its equivalent exams in the first week of December. The syllabus will be shortened and the exams will carry fewer marks. Since there will be no tests in the compulsory subjects, the students’ GPA of the previous public exams will be considered for the final results of the SSC and HSC exams. In case the examinations are not held, the results of both will be prepared based on the students’ results in the previous public exams and evaluation of assignments to be given to them.
During a virtual briefing, Education Minister Dipu Moni said the exams on each of the three optional subjects would be held for one and a half hours, instead of three hours. Examinees will have to answer both multiple-choice and written questions. Earlier, they were asked to write down answers to eight out of 10 questions. This time, they will have to answer three or four out of 10 questions. As part of the exam, SSC candidates will have to submit 24 assignments in three optional subjects in 12 weeks. The HSC candidates will have to submit 30 assignments in 15 weeks. Students are required to do two assignments per week.
The announcement triggered mixed reactions among the students and their guardians. Many lauded the government, saying it eased their concerns to some extent. Some guardians and educationists said the government should take the tests on all the subjects. Indecision has already killed many days of the students, we ask the government to hold the exams, maintaining all health protocols, precautions and quicken the result publication process. We want to say the education authorities and the government must devise some ways for the students to continue studies to build their careers.
