Schedule of the postponed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams will be announced two weeks after distribution of textbooks among students in flood-hit districts, Education Minister Dipu Moni said today (July 6, 2022).

There have been extensive damages due to the recent devastating flood and it was not possible to save the textbooks in the flooded areas, she told reporters at the Secretariat.

"We need to ascertain how many books will be needed in these areas first. If necessary, we will print textbooks," she said.

Once the distribution of books is completed, students will need a little time to prepare for the exams, she added.

SSC and equivalent exams – scheduled to begin on June 19 – were postponed due to the flood situation in the country on June 17.

About the rapid spike in Covid-19 cases, the education minister said if they can vaccinate students below 12, they will keep the educational institutions open. "At this moment, schools will not be closed. Decision will be taken after observing the situation."

Meanwhile, regarding the teacher being humiliated in Narail, the education minister said a quarter with vested interests is trying to create communal issues at educational institutions.

"Respecting teachers is the responsibility of everyone including the people's representatives and it is not the responsibility of the Education Ministry only."

Besides, the teachers need counseling, she said adding that primarily two lakh teachers will be counseled and so far 12,000 teachers have received training in this regard.

Regarding the Prime Minister's declaration of 2,716 privately run educational institutions eligible for monthly payment order (MPO), Dipu Moni said, "If any information provided by those institutions for MPO enlistment are found false, their MPO will be canceled."