DESK REPORT:

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations of 2020 under 11 education boards began on Monday across the country. The exams began at 10:00am at 3,512 centres and students will have to take seats 30 minutes prior to the tests.

A total of 20,47,779 students -- 10,24,363 boys and 10,23,416 girls -- take part in the SSC and its equivalent examinations from 28,884 institutions.

Of the candidates, a total of 16,35,240 students sat for the SSC examinations under nine general education boards while 2,81,254 for Dakhil exams under Madrasa Education Board and 1,31,285 for vocational exam under Bangladesh Technical Education Board this year. Besides, 342 students take part in the examination from abroad this year. In 2019, a total of 21,35,333 students had taken part in the SSC and its equivalent examinations. But the number of total examinees has decreased by 87,554 this year compared to the previous year.

Earlier, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni at a press conference said all coaching centres across the country will remain shut for a month from January 25 with the aim of preventing question paper leak during SSC and its equivalent examinations. “The Education Ministry has taken stringent measures to prevent the leakage of question papers," she said, urging the teachers, students and guardians not to pay heed to any rumour of question paper leak.

The education minister said, “None will be allowed to use mobile phone except the secretary of the test centres during exams, but the secretary can only use feature phones.” The minister also instructed the candidates to enter their respective exam halls half an hour before the beginning of the tests, or else they would not be allowed to sit for the test.

The physically challenged examinees will get 20 minutes additional time while those autistic and the down syndrome disabled will be given additional 30 minutes. No outsiders will be allowed to enter the boundary of an examination centre, she said.