O, A-Level Exams: Students go to HC for deferral
A writ petition was filed yesterday with the High Court seeking its order on the government to postpone the upcoming O-and A-level examinations while students continue protests demanding the cancellation of exams amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Tamanna Tabassum, an A-level student, submitted the petition to the HC saying that the students could not take preparations for the examinations as their classes were closed for the last six months due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Besides, many students of O-and A-levels did not receive admit cards for attending the exams, the petition added.
Petitioner's counsel Moniruzzaman Lincon told The Daily Star that his client in the writ petition prayed to the HC to direct the authorities concerned of the government to formulate a guideline to run the English medium education in the country.
The HC may hold a hearing on the writ petition any day this week, the lawyer said.
Two UK boards -- Cambridge Assessment International Education and Pearson's Edexcel -- arrange O-and A-level exams internationally. British Council Bangladesh administers the exams in the country.
A-level exams under Cambridge are scheduled to start on October 1, and those under Pearson on October 5. Pearson's O-level exams are set to start on November 2 and Cambridge's on November 5.
The government on September 23 given approval to the British Council to administer the exams with some conditions.
Meanwhile, a group of candidates formed a human chain in front of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education office in the capital.
Rawnak Chowdhury, an A-level candidate, said the government should cancel the approval of administering exams taking the coronavirus situation and safety of the students into consideration.
English medium students also sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's intervention for the cancellation of the upcoming O-and A-level exams.
Faiyaz Mashnoon, an A-level candidate, said that almost all students are tensed and they are not in a position to sit for a board exam.
Some students said that online education was insufficient to prepare for a board exam.
They said have been continuing their protests on various online platforms.
The students formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club on September 20 and 22 to press home their demands.
They also held a press conference on September 23, reiterating their demands.
British Council Bangladesh in a statement on September 23 said in the upcoming October-November 2020 exams, UK exam boards would base results on students' performance in the exams alone and not on any non-exam assessment, except for art and design qualifications.
UK boards in May-June session decided not to stage exams due to the coronavirus pandemic. The results were prepared based on the predicted grades and previous academic records submitted by schoolteachers.
English-medium students can sit for these exams either through schools or as private candidates.
Approximately 5,200 students in Bangladesh have registered for the upcoming October-November session of exams, according to the British Council.