Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said it is not possible to hold the Higher Secondary Examinations (HSC) and equivalent examinations at this moment due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. They will resume when conditions are suitable.
“However, the government has taken all necessary preparations for HSC and equivalent exams,” she added.
The minister made the remarks during the general discussion on the proposed national budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year in parliament on Tuesday.
In her speech, the minister pledged to increase her ministry’s capacity to properly implement the allocation made in this year’s budget for the country’s education sector, to ensure transparency and accountability, and take more effective measures to curb the loss of resources.
"Classes are being taken online and over television during this Covid-19 crisis. We have been able to reach around 92% of our students through televised classes. A new platform for online teaching will be launched on Tuesday. All universities will be able to use it,” she added.
Calling on students and their parents, she said: “We should do something useful in these tough times. We should strengthen our family ties and try to acquire new skills.
“We also need to be more humane to each other.”
The education minister also requested withdrawal of the proposed supplementary duty on mobile services to make online education more accessible to students.
She also urged everyone to follow the health guidelines provided by the government to stay safe from Covid-19.
Earlier on June 6, the Ministry of Education decided to extend the ongoing holiday of all institutions across Bangladesh till August 06.
After the first detection of Covid-19 infection in Bangladesh on March 8, followed by the first report of a death on March 18, the Education Ministry closed all schools, colleges, and universities from March 18 to 31, and later extended the closure till April 9 due to the global pandemic.
On April 7, the ministry decided to extend the shutdown till the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
Due to the pandemic, the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations, which were scheduled to start on April 1, were also postponed indefinitely.
The government imposed a nationwide “general holiday” on March 26 to prevent transmission of Covid-19, a highly contagious and severe acute respiratory infection caused by the novel coronavirus.
