A total of 10,00,564 examinees will appear at 1,856 centres across the country for the SSC, Dakhil and SSC Vocational examinations.

Of them, 7,89,669 will appear in the SSC examinations under the seven education boards, 1,62,735 in the Dakhil examinations under the Madrasa Education Board and 48,160 in the SSC Vocational examinations under the Technical Education Board.

Of the SSC examinees this year, 2,03,030 will appear from science group while 3,46,723 from humanities and 2,39,916 from business studies.

At an education ministry press conference yesterday, the Minister Dr Osman Farruk said the government has taken all-out measures to curb cheating in the examinations.

"Like the previous years, the government will be able to show its success in holding copying free SCC, Dakhil and vocational examinations this year," he said.

About 40,000 SSC examinees were expelled in 2001 while the figure decreased to only 1,746 last year, signifying that the students now prefer study to copying, the minister said.

Expressing hope that the percentage of passed students will significantly increase this year, Osman Farruk said, "The government now focuses on ensuring proper classroom teaching so the students can take the examinations in right earnest."

Asked about the frequent power outages across the country that disturbs the SSC examinees, the minister said he has already urged the authorities concerned to take measures to solve the problem.

Denying the allegation of leaking of question papers, the minister said such allegations are raised only for political reasons.

Education Secretary Momtajul Islam, Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Prof Dilara Hafiz, Dhaka Education Board Chairman Harun-ur-Rashid and chairmen of different boards, among others, were present at the press conference.