IMPLEMENTING the usage of computers in educational institutions and using Bangla in data-communication and networking accessibility are areas that now receive much attention in different private and public organisations. A free educational site -- bdexam.com-- developed by a student of Rajshahi University of Engineering Technology (RUET), has created new usage possibilities for students sitting for various examinations.

The site has links to practice level multiple-choice questions (MCQ) on Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) modules, Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exams, general knowledge, information and technology and also to RUET and medical admission tests.

“This site may become a role model for all primary, secondary and even university level

academies,” said the site's developer, Mohammad Emdadul Haque Murad, a fourth year engineering student of RUET, while holding his high hopes that all educational institutions will use such MCQ exam based websites to administer their exams for the students.

Entrance to any practice exam at the site is free of cost. The only requirement is to take a little time in filling in an online registration form. A login name and password is allocated to each user of the service. A single login name and associated paassword may be used to attend any category of exams that are listed in the site.

“Once you enter an exampage, the timer starts counting your staying period while attending the question paper,” says Murad. This is exactly how a student will time him or herself and hence take any necessary precaution for the real show ground. Submission of any such paper within the allocated time

frame is essential. As soon as someone presses the 'finish' button on an exam-paper version of the site, the results pop up within a few seconds.

“This might be adopted by all public and private universities and colleges, which take unlimited time to publish results of their examinations,” he said, referring to the late responses on SSC and HSC results from the education boards.

The site has been built using MSQL and PHP as the main server is on Linux. A Unicode based software is also at use for the site to view Bangla fonts. Many links of the site are still under construction and will be completed soon.

Such an effort is always praiseworthy. Educational institutions should come forward and help their students realise their hidden potential, which, in turn, can help the institution itself.