Govt wants to complete SSC, HSC exams within fixed timeframe: Minister

The government is weighing completing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations within a fixed timeframe, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said today (13 May).

However, teachers, students and education stakeholders opposed a preliminary plan to hold the 2027 SSC and HSC examinations in December this year, arguing that such a sudden change in the schedule could affect students' preparation and make it difficult to complete the syllabus on time.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of a solar panel project agreement at Dhaka Residential Model College, the minister said the government is prioritising the timely completion of public examinations.

"Without real education, no country can achieve progress," he said, adding that Bangladesh can become one of the world's leading nations if its young people are transformed into skilled and productive human resources.

He added that there is no alternative to modern education in building a competent workforce and that the government is working with the highest priority in the sector.

The education minister said his ministry has recently begun assessing the feasibility of completing the two public examinations [SSC, HSC] by 31 December every year.

The issue, however, drew discussion and concern among teachers, students and others.

Meanwhile, at a views exchange meeting at the ministry in the presence of Milon today, stakeholders opposed holding the examinations in December.

Several attending officials recommended conducting the SSC examinations in January and the HSC in either April or June.

Joining the event online, one student said, "If the exams are suddenly held in December, students will not get enough time to prepare."

HSC examinees also raised similar concerns. One participant noted that classes for the 2025-26 HSC batch had started on 15 September 2025, making it difficult to complete the full syllabus if examinations are held in December 2026.

One senior official present at the meeting said most opinions favoured holding SSC examinations in January and HSC examinations in June, while another official said there was also a proposal to hold HSC examinations in April.

Currently, the academic year at the secondary level runs from January to December; higher secondary and higher education sessions do not fully follow the same calendar.

Educationists emphasised that a coordinated long-term plan is needed to bring stability to public examination schedules.