Ministry for scrapping this year’s JSC, PEC exams

The Primary and Mass Education Ministry has decided not to hold the final exams of classes V and VIII because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has forced schools to remain closed for months.

The ministry sent on Monday a proposal to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for approval and the decision will be implemented once approved, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain confirmed Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday.

Junior School Certificate (JSC), Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC), Primary Education Certificate (PEC), and Ebtedayee terminal examinations will not be taken this year if the proposal is approved by the prime minister, Primary and Mass Education Ministry Secretary Akram Al Hossain told Dhaka Tribune.

A meeting of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) took place on Wednesday to finalize this “recovery plan” for the country’s education system.

On the other hand, the Education Ministry has been forming a recovery plan, such as automatically promoting students to the next class without holding exams, or extending the duration of the academic session to complete syllabus, among others.

The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE), National Academy of Primary Education (NAPE), and Bangladesh Examination Development Unit (BEDU) have been jointly working towards it.  

BEDU has already sent a proposal to the ministry with some six options to properly complete the current academic year.

“We have already held several meetings and already received the proposal from BEDU to reopen schools in September,” said Dhaka Education Board Chairman Prof Ziaul Haque.

Earlier in April, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said that if the situation does not improve, educational institutions will be closed till September.

However, the ministry has been planning to hold Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) examination within two to three weeks of opening educational institutes. 

Talking to Dhaka Tribune, Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education College Inspector Prof Harun-ur-Rashid said the decision on holding the HSC examinations will depend on when educational institutes will reopen.