“There will be no annual exams for them. There will be no results, no grading …” Education Minister Dipu Moni declared at a virtual press briefing, adding that the decision was made taking the current coronavirus situation into consideration.
Replying to a query, she also hinted that schools and madrasas might not reopen next month.
The announcement comes when students and guardians all across the country are in confusion about promotion to next classes as schools and madrasas have remained shut for more than seven months amid the pandemic. The government has already announced that the closure was extended until October 31.
Recently, the government said this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams were cancelled to stem Covid-19 transmission.
Assignments would be given to the pupils every week to identify their learning shortcomings. “The assessment method will help us understand the weaknesses of the students and address them. The assessment will not have any impact on their promotion to next classes,” she said.
Students will be able to get and submit the assignments to their teachers online or in person, following proper health guidelines. The class work will also be handed through TV and will be available on educational websites.
The short syllabus will be covered in 30 work days in November and December, she said.
Asked about the assignments, NCTB Chairman Prof Narayan Chandra Saha said students would have to answer questions based on what they learn in a particular week. “The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education will upload information on the assignment method on its website soon,” he said.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Education and Statistics (BANBEIS), there are about 1.05 crore students in class VI-IX across the country. Of them, about 87.32 lakh are in schools and the rest in madrasas.
According to the academic calendar, their annual exams were scheduled to be held between November 28 and December 10.
Sources said the authorities were yet to decide on the annual tests of the primary (I-V) and class X students as well as this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent exams.
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