SSC examinees vandalize centre for not being allowed to take calculators

Secondary School Certificate (SSC) candidates on Wednesday vandalized two examination centres at Shibchar upazila of Madaripur  being not allowed to take calculators inside the exam hall during the mathematics exam on Tuesday.

The incident took place after the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) exam on Wednesday, during which almost 50 students were injured, confirmed Shibchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Asaduzzaman.

The agitated students first started the protest in Shibchar Nandakumar Model Institution, and it spread to Fazilatunnesa Government Pilot Girls' High School.

The protest and vandalism continued for an hour, during which the students broke windows, doors, chair tables and CCTVs of the schools. 

The students said, although use of regular scientific calculators was permitted in the exam, the authorities of Shibchar Nandakumar School did not allow calculators inside the halls. While in Fazilatunnesa High School, many calculators were taken away during the exam under the centre secretary's orders.

The unprecedented gaffe caused hamper in the students’ concentration during the exam resulting in a poor performance, say examinees.

Md Rafiqul Islam, SSC exam centre secretary, confirmed the matter and informed that 1,102 students sat for the exam at Fazilatunnesa High School and 980 students at the Nandakumar venue.