Editorial, News & commercial office:
55/A, H M Siddique Mansion (Level-7), Purana Paltan, Motijhel C/A, Dhaka-1000. Phone: +8802226640056,
e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
The authorities are considering reforms to the public examination system by reducing the number of SSC and HSC subjects and shortening examination schedules to ease stress of students and minimize disruption to regular academic activities.
The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has prepared a concept paper and action plan proposing a rationalization of examination subjects and a significant reduction in the number of working days required for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams. The proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval.
NCTB Chairman Md Mahbubul Haque Patwary said a workshop involving educationists, experts, parents, students, education board representatives and other stakeholders will be organized following the ministry's directives. Recommendations from the workshop will help shape final decisions, he add4ed.
According to the concept paper, SSC examinations currently require about 25-30 working days, while HSC examinations take 30-35 days or longer. Since educational institutions are used as examination centers, regular classes remain suspended in thousands of schools during this period. The NCTB also noted that lengthy examinations increase mental stress for students, keep many teachers occupied with examination duties, and delay result publication and admission processes.
A two-day stakeholder workshop is planned to review the current subject structures, explore ways to reduce examination time, assess the feasibility of holding SSC examinations by December, determine the balance between continuous and summative assessments, and develop implementation and risk-mitigation strategies.
The NCTB will also study the existing practices in countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore, to determine a reasonable minimum number of examination subjects.
Discussions will focus on possible subject integration, restructuring compulsory and optional subjects, revising question formats, modernizing practical assessments and strengthening school-based evaluation. A final framework will be prepared based on stakeholder feedback.
Participants will include officials from the Ministry of Education, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), the Directorate of Madrasa and Technical Education, education boards, researchers, teachers, parents and students. Around 90 stakeholders are expected to contribute to the recommendations.
The expert panel includes Emeritus Professor Dr Manzoor Ahmed of BRAC University and Professor Hosne Ara Begum, Director of the Institute of Education and Research (IER) at the University of Dhaka.
Six working groups will develop recommendations on subject integration, minimum examination requirements, alignment of madrasa and technical streams with general education, and modernization of practical examinations.
The final recommendations are expected to include a revised subject framework, proposed number of examination subjects, total examination days, and updates to grading and certification systems.
NCTB Member (Curriculum) Professor Dr A K M Masudul Haque told BSS that the process is being carried forward through coordination among the NCTB, the Dhaka Education Board and other relevant stakeholders following the ministry's directives.
"We have submitted a preliminary concept paper to the ministry on how the number of examination subjects and working days can be reduced. However, the matter has not yet been finalised. Key examination-related issues will be determined in coordination with the Inter-Education Board Examination Management Committee," he said.
Asked about the current progress regarding the proposed reduction of subjects and examination days, NCTB Chief Editor Muhammad Fatihul Qadir told BSS that the NCTB had sent a preliminary framework to the ministry outlining possible reform measures.
"At this moment, there has been no new progress or activity regarding the process of reducing subjects and examination days because our entire team is busy with the extensive task of making urgent corrections to textbooks for the next academic year and incorporating those revisions into the books," he said.
He added that the issue of reducing examination duration and the number of subjects would ultimately be implemented based on the opinions of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee.
Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleque told BSS that a preliminary discussion on the matter was held at a recent meeting.
"Necessary decisions will be taken on the basis of opinions from the relevant stakeholders," he said.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/national/1f161a65-53ef-6210-926a-d28b1cac7807