Shorten overall exam period, PM to education boards

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today directed the authorities concerned to hold public examinations in a shorter time to avert too much of talks and rumours.

"If the duration examination can be shortened, various types of talks and rumours (regarding exams) will come down," she said.

The Prime Minister was addressing a function arranged at Ganobhaban marking the handover and publication of HSC and its equivalent examination results (2018).

"You took too much time in taking the examinations. This time, the exams started on April 02 and ended on May 24. But, you didn't take that much time in publishing the results," she said adding that it used to take only seven days to hold an examination during her student life.

Sheikh Hasina, however, thanked the teachers and all other concerned for publishing the HSC and its equivalent examinations within a short time.

She appreciated the examination system taken this year calling it 'very excellent'.

The Prime Minister thanked all concerned, particularly the Education Ministry, teachers, guardians, chairmen and staff of the education boards, law enforcement and intelligence agencies for working sincerely to properly hold the examination.

"Question leak is not a problem in our country alone. This is seen in many countries sometimes," she said adding that there are also demerits of digitisation alongside its merits.

Hasina said her government is giving more importance to technical education and vocational training, which will create employment scope for youths both at home and abroad. It also gives importance to science education, she added.

"Our students are very meritorious, we have to utilise them," Hasina said mentioning that the government is making efforts to improve the education system of the country.

Pointing at the students, the Prime Minister said education is the most valuable treasure and no one can snatch it. "So, if you can acquire knowledge, you can build your lives beautifully."

She urged the students to be attentive to their education and do good results (in exams).

Hasina suggested the students to develop self-confidence to build themselves and the country as well. "You'll have to have self-confidence for being self-reliant and building the country. You must be patriots. If you have that your self-confidence will develope."

She congratulated all the students who have become successful in this year's HSC and its equivalent examinations.

The Prime Minister urged the guardians not to scold their children who could not succeed in their examinations. "Scolding them is not a solution, you rather identify the reasons behind their failure and remove the problems."

The Prime Minister also asked the guardians, teachers, imams and other religious leaders to keep watch on the students so that they can't engage in militancy, terrorism and drugs.

Earlier at the function, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid along with chairmen of all the education boards handed over the results to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban around 10:10am. The Prime Minister unveiled the results digitally.

The Prime Minister exchanged views with the students of Netrakona through video conferencing from her residence on the occasion of publication of the results.

States Minister for Madrasah and Technical Education Division Kazi Keramat Ali also spoke on the occasion, while Secondary & Higher Education Division Secretary Md Sohorab Hossain delivered the welcome speech.

Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman conducted the programme.