SSC students must be in halls 30 mins before exam

The examinees of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent exams will not be allowed to enter their respective exam halls if they fail to reach at least 30 minutes before the exam begins, said a press release of the education ministry.

The ministry took the decision at a meeting held by a committee formed to give recommendations on public exams to prevent copying or any other forms of cheating.

Earlier, the education ministry issued similar directives before the Junior School Certificate (JSC) and equivalent exams were held in November last year.

At the time, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid had said that from the next public exam onwards, the candidates who fail to reach the halls within the stipulated time will not be allowed to sit for the exams.

However, this will not apply for the upcoming JSC exams, he said, adding that they will publicise the issue three to six months before the beginning of any public exams.

The meeting, presided over by Sohoran Hossain, secretary to the secondary and higher education division of the ministry, also decided to prepare a “question paper bank”, as a part of long term measures.

There was also a discussion about whether internet connection in the vicinity of test centres can be cut off during the exams, and several other measures to prevent question paper leaks.

No smart phones will be allowed inside the exam centres and only secretary of the exam centre will be allowed to use a regular mobile phone, it added.