THE Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations for the academic session 2020-21 began on Thursday after a delay of nearly seven months caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, maintaining hygiene rules. The public examinations were initiated at a time when the super spreader Omicron variant is looming large. Though public gathering and violation of health protocols is too risky, session jam in education is also self-destructive and the government took the right decision in this case.
Some 1,399,690 students are appearing at the public tests this year – a 2.48% increase from last year’s 1,365,789. While 1,138,017 candidates are appearing for the HSC exams under nine general education boards, 113,114 are taking the Alim exams under the Madrasa Education Board, and 148,503 the vocational exams under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board. This year, the SSC and the HSC exams could not be held according to schedule due to the pandemic. Subsequently, the government decided to hold the exams with shortened syllabuses. The SSC and equivalent exams that began on November 14 concluded on November 23, while the HSC and equivalent exams will conclude on December 30.
Educational institutions across the country remained closed since March last year due to the pandemic, with the closure extended several times. The government finally reopened schools and colleges on September 12, following an improvement in the Covid-19 situation. Last year’s HSC examinees were evaluated on the basis of their results of JSC and SSC exams, a decision that evoked mixed reactions. The authorities should continue to impose health protocols in all exam centres. Guardians of candidates should not throng the centres for the good of their wards.
