question leaks in SSC exams

Coaching centres to be shut from today: Nahid

The education ministry yesterday announced that it has taken several steps, including closure of all coaching centres seven days prior to the start of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams, as part of the process of curbing question paper leaks. Again, the ministry has warned that it would cancel the exams every time question papers are leaked, if such an incident occurs again at all. Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid the ministry is “desperate” and “aggressive” to curb leaks of question papers in the upcoming SSC and equivalent examinations and the highest punishment would be meted out if anyone is involved in leaking question papers. The minister issued this statement at the national monitoring committee on the occasion of the SSC examination at the conference room of the education ministry in the Secretariat.

The education minister had said earlier on Wednesday that the coaching centres would remain closed three days before the beginning of the SSC exams, but the new decision has now imposed restrictions seven days prior to the start of the exams till their conclusion. The minister has directed law enforcement agencies to ensure its implementation.

The SSC and equivalent examinations will start on February 1 and continue till February 24 under the eight general boards, one technical board and one Madrasa board. The exams will be held from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm. Under the new curbs, the coaching centres will remain closed from today.

“We are desperate and aggressive to curb question paper leaks. We would apply the maximum use of law against the person responsible in such a leak,” the minister said.  

The secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the education ministry, Sohrab Hossain, said, “We have taken all measures necessary to hold examinations that are free of question paper leaks. There won’t be any gap.”  

“We would cancel exams if questions are leaked. If we get proof of question paper leak even after the exam, we will cancel the exams. If we get proof of involvement of people in question paper leaks, the sternest measures would be immediately taken,” he added.

The education ministry would hold the upcoming SSC examinations, starting on February 1, with the same question papers, under 10 education boards.  

Asked whether the ministry is taking a risk here, Sohrab Hossain said, “Yes, we are taking a risk. We are doing it because questions have been raised in respect of the quality of the students when exams are taken under separate board questions. That’s why we are doing it.”

The education minister said the examinees have to sit down at their respective seats in the examination centres 30 minutes before the examinations begin and the on-duty teachers are only allowed to open the envelopes of the questions 30 minutes before the examinations.  

“If the examinees failed to enter the exam hall 30 minutes earlier, they are not allowed to enter under any excuse,” the minister said. “We have taken up this measure to curb question paper leaks,” he added.  

About the closure of Facebook during examinations, the minister said, “We would talk to the ministry as to what can be done in this regard.”

The minister also requested the guardians not to run after the leaked questions because it may help their wards get marks but this would not help the children become good people.

Some representatives of different ministries, departments and education boards said it has been seen that some of the examination secretaries do not go to the treasury rooms where the exams are preserved to collect the papers.

Sohrab Hossain said, “We are taking the matter seriously. The examination secretaries themselves have to go to treasury rooms to collect questions.” A Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) representative said they have received a complaint about an advertisement on Facebook regarding a sale of question papers. The officer said they were looking into the matter. 

question leaks in SSC exams

Coaching centres to be shut from today: Nahid

The education ministry yesterday announced that it has taken several steps, including closure of all coaching centres seven days prior to the start of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams, as part of the process of curbing question paper leaks. Again, the ministry has warned that it would cancel the exams every time question papers are leaked, if such an incident occurs again at all. Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid the ministry is desperate and aggressive to curb leaks of question papers in the upcoming SSC and equivalent examinations and the highest punishment would be meted out if anyone is involved in leaking question papers. The minister issued this statement at the national monitoring committee on the occasion of the SSC examination at the conference room of the education ministry in the Secretariat. The education minister had said earlier on Wednesday that the coaching centres would remain closed three days before the beginning of the SSC exams, but the new decision has now imposed restrictions seven days prior to the start of the exams till their conclusion. The minister has directed law enforcement agencies to ensure its implementation. The SSC and equivalent examinations will start on February 1 and continue till February 24 under the eight general boards, one technical board and one Madrasa board. The exams will be held from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm. Under the new curbs, the coaching centres will remain closed from today. We are desperate and aggressive to curb question paper leaks. We would apply the maximum use of law against the person responsible in such a leak, the minister said. The secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the education ministry, Sohrab Hossain, said, We have taken all measures necessary to hold examinations that are free of question paper leaks. There wont be any gap. We would cancel exams if questions are leaked. If we get proof of question paper leak even after the exam, we will cancel the exams. If we get proof of involvement of people in question paper leaks, the sternest measures would be immediately taken, he added. The education ministry would hold the upcoming SSC examinations, starting on February 1, with the same question papers, under 10 education boards. Asked whether the ministry is taking a risk here, Sohrab Hossain said, Yes, we are taking a risk. We are doing it because questions have been raised in respect of the quality of the students when exams are taken under separate board questions. Thats why we are doing it. The education minister said the examinees have to sit down at their respective seats in the examination centres 30 minutes before the examinations begin and the on-duty teachers are only allowed to open the envelopes of the questions 30 minutes before the examinations. If the examinees failed to enter the exam hall 30 minutes earlier, they are not allowed to enter under any excuse, the minister said. We have taken up this measure to curb question paper leaks, he added. About the closure of Facebook during examinations, the minister said, We would talk to the ministry as to what can be done in this regard. The minister also requested the guardians not to run after the leaked questions because it may help their wards get marks but this would not help the children become good people. Some representatives of different ministries, departments and education boards said it has been seen that some of the examination secretaries do not go to the treasury rooms where the exams are preserved to collect the papers. Sohrab Hossain said, We are taking the matter seriously. The examination secretaries themselves have to go to treasury rooms to collect questions. A Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) representative said they have received a complaint about an advertisement on Facebook regarding a sale of question papers. The officer said they were looking into the matter.