Strict measures are in place to stop any question paper leak during the upcoming SSC and equivalent exams that are scheduled to begin from February 1.
For the first time ever, the test with multiple choice questions (MCQ) would be held before the creative or narrative part, as there were allegations that some invigilators were leaking the MCQ answers soon after the packets with the questions were being opened.
As an added measure, the questions would reach the centres only half an hour before the exam starts, said Dhaka Education Board Chairman Abu Bakar Siddique.
The respective deputy commissioners will receive the question papers around 9am, before sending those to the exam centres. Authorities and invigilators have been ordered to open the sealed question papers before 30 minutes of both MCQs and written exams; anyone violating the directive would face strong punishment, warned the Dhaka board chairman.
The examinees will be able to general scientific calculators to the exam centre, but no one except the centre secretary of the exam centre concerned will be able to bring mobile phones.
The Education Ministry will also be keeping an eye on Facebook so that no one can create any disturbance by claiming to leak questions of Secondary School Certificate exams.
On January 26, State Minister for Telecom Tarana Halim told the Dhaka Tribune the Telecom Division would take steps to remove any Facebook post which the Education Ministry finds to be trying to create confusion over question leak.
Dhaka board Chairman Siddique said: “We have noticed people posting on Facebook claiming that questions have been leaked. But those are just suggestions which may match with 10%-15% of the questions. So, we cannot say that questions are being leaked on Facebook.”
There is no chance of a physical leak of the questions as law enforcers would escort the sealed question papers to be printed at the highly secured state-run BG Press, he added.
To prevent leaks of question, security has been tightened in BG Press by using metal detector, paper detector, vault door, and CCTV surveillance.
On January 25, Education Minister also warned against cheating or any unethical practice in the examination halls
To stop question leaks, a national monitoring committee has also been formed, with members including officials from public administration, ICT Division, RAB, police, detective agencies, the BTRC, and the chairmen of education boards.
“Every year we take necessary steps to prevent question paper leak. People who are involved in such leaks will be punished,” RAB legal and media wing director, Mufti Mahmud Khan, told the Dhaka Tribune.
According to a TIB study from last year, there have been allegations of question leaks in 63 public exams during 2012-2015.
This year, around 1.6 million students are set to appear in the SSC exams. The theoretical exams will continue until March 8, while practical exams will take place between March 9 and March 14.
