Ministries to send proposals to PMO to cancel JSC, PEC exams

Ministries are set to send proposals to the Prime Minister's Office for cancellation of this year's Primary Education Completion, Junior School Certificate and equivalent exams due to the coronavirus situation.

If Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approves the proposal, primary and mass education ministry will cancel this year's PEC and equivalent Ibtedayi Education Completion exam, and education ministry will cancel JSC and equivalent Junior Dakhil Certificate exam, two top officials of the ministries told The Daily Star.

The move came after primary and mass education senior secretary Akram- Al-Hossain, secondary and higher education secretary Mahbub Hossain held a meeting with principal secretary to Prime Minister and other top officials of the PMO.

Primary and mass education ministry is preparing proposal regarding PEC and its equivalent exams while education ministry is doing same for JSC and equivalent exams, said a secretary who attended the meeting held earlier this week.

"We are preparing proposal and will send it to PMO early next week" said the secretary.

Akram said that they are working on keeping different alternatives regarding the PEC and other exams "But whatever we decide, we will ensure students can achieve grade-based fundamental competence," he said.

Mahbub Hossain said his ministry is working on a different scenario.

"NCTB, education boards and experts are working on the issue under supervision of our ministry but everything will depend on when schools will reopen," he said.

Top officials of both ministries also said that if the exams are cancelled this year, they will take a final exam, based on which students will receive scholarship.

PEC and JSC exams usually take place in November and this year about 3 million students are expected to take PEC exam and 2.5 million expected to sit for JSC exam.

The government had initially extended closure of all educational institutions, which have remained shut since March 17 to curb the spread of coronavirus.

And it is uncertain when the school will reopen.