Verdict on Khaleda case

SSC examinees fear violence

Question paper leak another cause for worry

Panic has gripped 20 lakh examinees of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams as there could be violence after the court delivers its verdict against the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) today.

The authorities of some of English medium schools, such as Mastermind, Sunbeam, South Breeze and Sacred Heart, have decided to keep their institutions closed.

Some other schools said they would keep their educational institutions open, leaving the option to the guardians whether they would send their kids to school.

As per the routine of the SSC exams on February 8, the examinees will sit for the religious subject paper, while Madrasa Board examinees will write the Bangla second paper.

The examinees and guardians are concerned because political parities generally resort to various forms of agitation, including calling a hartal when anything goes against their interest. There are apprehensions that the BNP would announce a hartal if the verdict of the case goes against it.  According to the SSC schedule, a series of exams are slated for Saturday and Sunday.

Examinees said if the BNP announces a hartal and the education ministry postpones the exams, it would affect their preparations. This has put the examinees in a fix.

However, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid, at a press conference on January 31, had told journalists: “We have previous experience on holding exams amid violent political programmes unleashed by the BNP. We hope they would consider the future of examinees and not announce any programme that can hamper the exams.”

The principal of Maple Leaf, Ali Kamran Reza, said: “We would keep the branches of our schools open, but it's the decision of the guardians whether they would send their children or not.”

To make matters worse, examinees are also worried about question paper leak.

Questions of exams held so far had been allegedly leaked and the government could not check it despite all-out efforts.

The English second paper questions were leaked from Madaripur district just half an hour before starting of the exams. The district administration detained a university student, Jobaidul Islam, 24, in this connection when the soft copy of the main questions was found in his mobile phone.

Jobaidul is a student of a private university in the capital. He is from the Sabujbagh area of Amtoli upazila of Barguna district.

Law enforcers found similarity between the soft copy and the main questions. The police also seized a laptop and a handset from Jubaidul’s possession when he was on a Kuakata-bound Eagle Paribahan bus.

The Madaripur additional deputy commissioner (revenue), Syed Faruk Ahammed, said they got the information from a source and that the police detained Jubaidul with question and answer papers from a bus at the Mostafapur bus stop.

Madaripur Sadar Model police station officer-in-charge Kamrul Hassan said hunt is on to catch other members of the gang for the question paper leak. A case would be filed against Jubaidul.

Asked about the question paper leak, Zubaidul said: “I used to exchange exam suggestions through a Facebook Group 'Secret SSC 2K18’ in exchange for money.”

He also claimed that he was not involved in question paper leaks.

For the first time, the education ministry had taken various measures, including shutting down of coaching centres seven days before the exams till the end, entry of examinees half an hour before the exams, restriction on carrying mobile phones at the centres, and restriction on opening envelopes containing question papers half an hour before.

 

Verdict on Khaleda case

SSC examinees fear violence

Question paper leak another cause for worry

Panic has gripped 20 lakh examinees of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams as there could be violence after the court delivers its verdict against the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) today. The authorities of some of English medium schools, such as Mastermind, Sunbeam, South Breeze and Sacred Heart, have decided to keep their institutions closed. Some other schools said they would keep their educational institutions open, leaving the option to the guardians whether they would send their kids to school. As per the routine of the SSC exams on February 8, the examinees will sit for the religious subject paper, while Madrasa Board examinees will write the Bangla second paper. The examinees and guardians are concerned because political parities generally resort to various forms of agitation, including calling a hartal when anything goes against their interest. There are apprehensions that the BNP would announce a hartal if the verdict of the case goes against it. According to the SSC schedule, a series of exams are slated for Saturday and Sunday. Examinees said if the BNP announces a hartal and the education ministry postpones the exams, it would affect their preparations. This has put the examinees in a fix. However, education minister Nurul Islam Nahid, at a press conference on January 31, had told journalists: We have previous experience on holding exams amid violent political programmes unleashed by the BNP. We hope they would consider the future of examinees and not announce any programme that can hamper the exams. The principal of Maple Leaf, Ali Kamran Reza, said: We would keep the branches of our schools open, but its the decision of the guardians whether they would send their children or not. To make matters worse, examinees are also worried about question paper leak. Questions of exams held so far had been allegedly leaked and the government could not check it despite all-out efforts. The English second paper questions were leaked from Madaripur district just half an hour before starting of the exams. The district administration detained a university student, Jobaidul Islam, 24, in this connection when the soft copy of the main questions was found in his mobile phone. Jobaidul is a student of a private university in the capital. He is from the Sabujbagh area of Amtoli upazila of Barguna district. Law enforcers found similarity between the soft copy and the main questions. The police also seized a laptop and a handset from Jubaiduls possession when he was on a Kuakata-bound Eagle Paribahan bus. The Madaripur additional deputy commissioner (revenue), Syed Faruk Ahammed, said they got the information from a source and that the police detained Jubaidul with question and answer papers from a bus at the Mostafapur bus stop. Madaripur Sadar Model police station officer-in-charge Kamrul Hassan said hunt is on to catch other members of the gang for the question paper leak. A case would be filed against Jubaidul. Asked about the question paper leak, Zubaidul said: I used to exchange exam suggestions through a Facebook Group Secret SSC 2K18 in exchange for money. He also claimed that he was not involved in question paper leaks. For the first time, the education ministry had taken various measures, including shutting down of coaching centres seven days before the exams till the end, entry of examinees half an hour before the exams, restriction on carrying mobile phones at the centres, and restriction on opening envelopes containing question papers half an hour before.