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including holding of SSC and HSC exams. Right now we are not in a position to talk in details about the alternatives, but we will announce it soon,” said Prof Syed Md Golam Faruk, director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE).

Usually, SSC, HSC and their equivalent exams take place in February and April each year. But the education boards cannot hold the exams this year as all educational institutions remain closed since March 17 last year due to the pandemic.

The closure has been extended till July 31 in phases.

Around 20 lakh students sat for SSC and its equivalent exams and 13 lakh for HSC and its equivalent exams in the last few years.

The government had thought of holding this year’s public exams on shortened syllabuses. It had planned that SSC and HSC exams would be held after conducting in-person classes for 60 days and 84 days respectively.

But conducting in-person classes became uncertain due to the worsening Covid situation. Against this backdrop, the DSHE last month started the process of giving SSC and HSC examinees assignments. It asked students to submit those to schools.

On June 13, Education Minister Dipu Moni said the government was considering alternatives to SSC and HSC exams if those could not be held on shortened syllabuses due to the pandemic.

Officials at the education ministry, DSHE and Dhaka education board said they were thinking about the pros and cons of several alternatives. They said there are possibilities that SSC and HSC candidates would be evaluated based on their results in previous public exams and assignments.

The HSC results can be prepared after coordinating 50 percent of the SSC, 25 percent of Junior School Certificate (JSC) and 25 percent of assignment results.

The SSC results might be prepared after coordinating 50 percent of JSC and 50 percent of assignment results.

Officials said they were also considering reduction of subjects in exams. For example, examinees might be allowed to take one paper each from Bengali and English subjects carrying 100 marks each. Candidates usually take two papers from each of the subjects.

Dhaka education board Chairman Prof Nehal Ahmed said they were working on conducting exams and alternatives keeping in mind the Covid situation.

He said they have already set question papers of SSC exams and were working on “moderation” of HSC question papers.

STUDENTS, GUARDIANS WORRIED

Meanwhile, many guardians expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in announcing the government’s decision regarding the public exams.

They said they were confused whether the authorities would take the exams this year or not.

“The authorities should make a clear-cut announcement. We do not want to see that our children worried. They have already lost interest in their studies,” said Rafiqul Islam, guardian of an SSC examinee from the capital’s Mirpur area.

Both Golam Faruk and Nehal Ahmed said they were aware of the worries of guardians and students.

They said the government will soon make an announcement regarding SSC and HSC exams. They urged the guardians to take care of their children so that they can prepare well for the exams.

The government last year conducted the SSC exams just before closing all educational institutions on March 17, but it could not hold the HSC exams.

The results of the HSC exams were prepared based on the results of candidates’ previous two public exams -- SSC and JSC.