Inter-Education Board's Stance on Postponing HSC Exams Across All Boards

Inter-Education Board’s Stance on Postponing HSC Exams Across All Boards

Due to the severe flood situation in the Sylhet division, the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), Madrasa, and Technical exams scheduled in the region have been postponed until July 8th. However, despite the postponement in Sylhet, the Inter-Education Board authorities have announced that exams in other divisions will commence as planned from June 30th.

Students are voicing their concerns, demanding a delay in the exams. They argue that their HSC classes began in February 2023, and now, in June 2024, exams are being conducted. They are requesting that the exams be postponed by at least two months, until August 31st.

A student from Dhaka Board named Mohaimin highlighted that the HSC-24 batch began classes in February 2023, giving them only one year of academic activities. In contrast, the 2022 and 2023 batches had 24 and 18 months, respectively, to cover the same syllabus. Mohaimin questioned the disparity, especially considering the challenges they faced, including severe heat waves, load shedding, and cyclones that impacted many students in coastal areas. He noted that despite their protests, letters to the education ministry, and even hunger strikes, there has been no response from the authorities. Moreover, while exams have been postponed in Sylhet, no such decisions have been made for flood-affected areas like Netrokona, Lalmonirhat, and Gaibandha in the northern region. Mohaimin urged the authorities to take a well-considered decision regarding this matter.

To press their demands, HSC-24 batch students submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister on Tuesday, June 25th, asking for a two-month delay in the exams. This memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office by Maisha Mahfuz Sneha, a student of Dhanmondi Ideal College, with the support of students from various colleges.

In response to the students’ demands, Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar, the President of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, stated to The Daily Campus that the students’ demands are baseless and lack logical justification. He affirmed that there is no possibility of postponing the exams. The boards and the education ministry have completed all preparations to start the exams from June 30th, and he urged students to focus on their studies instead of wasting time.

The memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister expressed the students’ deep concerns about the upcoming exams and presented arguments in support of their demands, seeking the Prime Minister’s kind consideration of their situation.