Education ministry wants Facebook closure during SSC exams

The education ministry wants to keep social media platform Facebook shut for a certain time during the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations scheduled to be held across the country on February 1 simultaneously to prevent question paper leaks.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid today expressed the wills while talking to reporters at his ministry office in Dhaka today.

"I have requested the authorities concerned to keep the Facebook site close for a limited time during the SSC examinations to prevent the question paper leaks," Nahid said.

The Ministry of the Information Communication and Technology will talk to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to make the efforts a success, Minister Nahid said.

Holding coaching centers sole responsible for the incident of the question paper leakage, Nahid said all the coaching centres across the country will remain closed three days before the SSC examinations begin.

He said a vigilance team will keep close watch in the examination centres so that no teacher can unveil the question papers before half an hour of the examinations.

"If any teacher is found disloyal in maintaining the secrecy, he or she will be suspended instantly," Nahid said.

He also said all the examinees will have to reach their respective examination centres within 9:30am and no excuse of their delay under any circumstances will be considered.

Besides, while talking to The Daily Star this evening, Post and Telecom Minister Mustafa Zabbar said he has not yet gotten any proposal to close the Facebook site ahead of the SSC examination.

"The issue may be under consideration of the education ministry. I will act after consultation with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her IT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy if any decision comes in this regard," he said.