The government plans to hold SSC and equivalent examinations in January from 2027 and introduce a new national curriculum the following year, as part of a broader effort to reform the education system and reverse a decline in academic performance.
Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon announced the plans on Wednesday at a views-exchange meeting with representatives of the Dhaka, Mymensingh, Madrasah and Technical Education boards.
The move would mark a significant shift in Bangladesh’s examination calendar, bringing public examinations earlier in the academic year and aligning them more closely with the government’s goal of reducing session backlogs.
Milon said the decision to hold SSC examinations in January was taken after consulting students, teachers and guardians.
Although Ramadan created scope for postponing the examinations, the government opted to schedule them before Eid based on stakeholder feedback, he said.
“We will complete the syllabus by June. Pre-test and test examinations will then be held. Considering all relevant factors, we have decided to hold the SSC examinations in January,” the minister said.
The announcement comes days after the government released examination schedules for 2027, with SSC examinations set to begin on January 7 and HSC examinations on June 6.
Alongside the revised examination calendar, the government is preparing to roll out a new curriculum from 2028 as part of wider education reforms.
While details of the curriculum were not disclosed, the minister indicated that the changes are aimed at improving learning outcomes and strengthening the overall quality of education.
Expressing concern over recent examination results, Milon said government analyses found a downward trend in academic performance in recent years.
“We have observed a decline in results over the past few years. We must reverse this trend and further improve both the quality of education and examination outcomes,” he said.
To address the issue, the minister called for the introduction of mandatory in-house coaching programs in schools across the country.
He said additional academic support within educational institutions is necessary to help students perform better and reduce dependence on private coaching.
“Arrangements should be made for teachers’ honorariums through discussions with local governing committees,” he said.
The meeting also reviewed examination management, academic activities and future policy directions for the education sector.
The government’s latest plans signal a major overhaul of both the academic calendar and curriculum framework, with officials hoping the reforms will improve educational standards and ensure students progress through the system more efficiently.