Several schools in the capital are likely to fail to start class in the first week of the new academic year because of pending examinations.
Normally, textbooks are distributed on the first or second of the new year and classes begin following the distribution.
But this year, academics say, there might be an exception as schedules of year-end exams and admission tests were heavily disrupted by the consecutive shutdowns and blockades of past weeks.
Several schoolteachers said the problem would not be over with the completion of exams only, since they would need additional time to evaluate answer scripts and prepare result-sheets.
Schools may have to face further delay because of the general elections slated for January 5, they added.
According to sources, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, which has a track record for timely completion of exams and admission tests, is headed for a sure delay with its annual exams yet to be over.
But the school management is hopeful of finishing all exams by this week and publishing the results on December 31, although teachers and guardians have expressed scepticism about such a possibility.
When contacted, the school’s principal Manjua Ara Begum said the management was trying to complete all exams as soon as possible but shutdowns remained a constant irritant.
“We had been conducting exams only on Friday these past weeks.”
The management of Government Laboratory School said it would announce the results of its students on December 29, but several teachers said 30% of the scripts were yet to be checked.
The school is expecting to start class on the second day of the new year.
On the other hand, Monipur School and College has reportedly finished its examinations but is yet to get admissions over and done with.
Basirul Islam, president of Bangladesh Teachers’ Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that a good number of schools in the capital could not complete their annual examinations and would fail to start classes in time.