Staff Reporter :In spite of addressing the roots of questions leak in the ongoing Primary School Certificate [PSC] examinations, the government plans to slap ban on cellular phones and social media networks in the next public examinations in the name of saving future generation.Not only that, the government has initiated a discussion with Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission [BTRC] whether it is possible to shut down operation of the facebook during public examinations. The above decisions came up on Thursday at a meeting with the officials of Ministry of Education and law enforcement agencies’ over the Secondary School Certificate [SSC] examination- 2015 where Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman were present.”I think, it will not be proper to let our generation’s future be ruined because of cell phones. If necessary, we will also close faecbook. I’ve asked the concerned officials to look into the relevant laws in this regard,” Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said after the meeting.Officials said, the Education Ministry has taken such steps at a time when severe discontent is growing up among the general people due to questions leak in the ongoing PSC examinations that started from Sunday last.It is alleged that the question papers of Bengali, English, Mathematics and Bangladesh and global studies of the ongoing PSC exams have been leaked. There are also widespread allegations that some coaching centres, dishonest teachers, officials of education and mass education ministries and employees of security printing press have made an unholy nexus to leak questions.Although the leak of questions is putting huge mental pressure on minor students and also creating adverse impact on the mind of guardians, the Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman brushed aside the allegations of questions leak terming it rubbish. “It’s all rubbish. These are rumours. There is no proof of any leak in any of the districts across the country. I’m taking all responsibilities if there was any,” he said yesterday. The Education Minister, however, did not rule out the allegations of questions leak. “We have taken steps to close the coaching centres during the examinations. Besides, we have planned to bring the centers and the relevant teachers under close surveillance,” he said taking the issue under consideration. “If necessary, we will also keep close watch on photostat shops. I hereby urge all to refrain from spreading propaganda on question paper leak. At the same time, the intelligence agencies will increase vigilance on Bangladesh Government Press [BG Press]. I do hereby urge everybody to refrain from spreading propaganda on question paper leak,” he said.Issuing warning, the Education Minister further said, “I have instructed concerned officials to file cases under ICT Act, if anyone is caught with question papers or suggestion.In the wake of huge criticism following questions leak in all previous public examinations, the Education Ministry has also formed a 25-member inter-ministerial committee to oversee the upcoming SSC examinations to be held from February 2.Earlier, blaming the government for not taking action against the culprits, eminent educationist and Professor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Dr Zafar Iqbal in a write-up produced some evidences of PSC questions leak through facebook suggestion. “There is not a single example in the globe where the state itself teaches its children to commit unlawful acts,” he said expressing deep frustration. Raising several relevant issues, he asked, “Has there any other foolproof method to break the backbone of a nation? No. There was none in the world and there will not be anyone. Only some influential persons of our country can start a process to destroy the education system forever.” He again questioned, “What will we do with this nation which is being brought up committing such unlawful acts?” Earlier, all the public examinations, including JSC, SSC and HSC had experienced questions leak. In this backdrop, the authorities were compelled to hold English second paper in Dhaka Board for the second time. Questions were also leaked in Bangladesh Civil Service [BCS] examinations also, it is alleged.
