Millions of students are passing their days in uncertainty over admission in colleges and taking examinations to complete their higher secondary level studies as Covid-19 pandemic has halted all these procedures.
The students, who have come out successful at the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations this year, could not get admitted to colleges yet to carry forward their educational career, while the students, who have completed their academic session, are yet to appear at the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations for the pandemic.
The Ministry of Education has not yet discussed or issued directives about when it will be able to streamline the admission process and give the schedule of HSC examinations.
An HSC examinee, Maisha Binte Nawar, student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, said: "We are in dilemma and do not know when we will be able to take the exam. When will the pandemic situation come to an end? But, we are trying to concentrate on studying and taking preparation for the exams."
Rajuk Uttara Model School and College student Tahiya Aretri, who passed the SSC exam, said she is now passing her time reading storybooks and watching movies.
She vented her frustration at the closure of educational institutions due to Covid-19 and expressed uncertainty about the college admission process.
On May 31, the results of SSC and equivalent examinations were published with the highest pass rate in four years.
The pass rate of 82.87% in all 11 education boards overtook the 80.35% recorded in 2017, 77.77% in 2018, and 82.20% in 2019.
However, officials at the Ministry of Education said the government did not take any decision regarding the matters.
After getting the green signal from the government, they will make a decision and will notify the students about the HSC exam to ease their tension, the officials said.
On Sunday, Harun-ur-Rashid, college inspector of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, told Dhaka Tribune: "Although we could publish the SSC results, due to the prevailing situation in the country, we cannot begin the admission procedure.
"On the other hand, the HSC and equivalent exams were scheduled to start on April 1. But still, we could not do it for the same reason. We will take a decision soon after meeting with the ministry," he added.
On June 2, Dhaka Education Board allowed four renowned colleges -- Notre Dame, Holy Cross, St Joseph, and St Gregory -- to complete their admission process by June 20 for the academic year 2020-21.
However, on June 3, the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Dhaka, sent a letter to the colleges instructing them to postpone their admission process until further notice due to the ongoing pandemic and other circumstances.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame College had already decided not to have an admission test this year due to the coronavirus crisis.
In another development, the Ministry of Education has decided to extend the shutdown of all institutions across Bangladesh till August 6 in a bid to stop the further spread of Covid-19.
A circular in this regard will be issued soon, Secondary and Higher Education Secretary Mahbub Hossain told Dhaka Tribune on Monday.
After the first detection of Covid-19 in Bangladesh on March 8, followed by the first report of death on March 18, the ministry closed all educational institutions from March 18 to 31, and later extended the closure in phases till June 15 due to the global pandemic.