Coaching centres asked to remain closed during SSC exams

The government yesterday asked the authorities of all types of coaching centres to keep those closed from three days before the beginning of upcoming SSC and its equivalent examinations until the end of the tests.

The instruction came at a meeting of the National Monitoring Committee of the education ministry ahead of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations.

The meeting, chaired by Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, also talked about shutting down of internet and Facebook during the exams, read a handout from the ministry.

No decision, however, was made in this regard.

"The ministry alone cannot make the decision of shutting down internet and Facebook as it would involve other ministries. Further discussions would be held with officials from those ministries," said an education ministry official who was present in the meeting.

The ministry also restricted the use of mobile phones at the exam centres. Any examinee found with a cell phone will be expelled immediately, said the handout.

The meeting emphasised that all the candidates will have to enter and take sits at their respective centres 30 minutes before the beginning of the tests. No excuse will be accepted in case they fail to do that, said the handout.

On January 3, the ministry announced that the examinees will not be allowed to enter their respective exam halls if they fail to reach at least 30 minutes before the exam begins.

"All types of measures have been taken to hold the exams in an environment free from copying or cheating in the upcoming SSC exams," Nahid said.

The exams are scheduled to begin on February 1. The theoretical parts of the tests will end on February 24, which will be followed by practical tests.