Wanted to bring forward 2027 SSC exams but failed to do so: Education minister

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon has said the government had planned to hold the 2027 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations earlier than usual but could not do so because of scheduling constraints related to Ramadan.

“We wanted to hold the 2027 SSC examinations a little earlier, but we could not. At the last moment, Ramadan became a factor, and this time the opportunity passed. Holding the exams before Ramadan would have made the schedule too tight, while holding them after Ramadan would cause delays. Nevertheless, we are starting after Ramadan,” he said.

The minister also said the government had wanted to make recruitment examinations more synchronised but had not yet been able to do so. He stressed the need to address delays, including the time candidates spend waiting to join government service after passing the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations.

“We wanted to make the recruitment examinations more synchronised. It has not happened yet, but it has to happen. We have the intention and are making efforts, gradually. We need to explain all these losses, the year spent waiting and the delay in joining after passing the BCS,” he said.

Milon made the remarks on Tuesday (October 13) as the chief guest at the inauguration of an orientation training course for officers appointed to the 49th BCS General Education cadre in Bogura.

Referring to the recruitment process, the minister said more than 100,000 candidates had taken the specialised examination for the education cadre, from which around 500 candidates qualified through the multiple-choice test before proceeding to the viva voce. A total of 651 officers had ultimately been selected, he said, adding that the candidates had chosen teaching as their profession.

“How much of their lives has already passed? This 49th BCS was a specialised examination for the education cadre. More than 100,000 people took part. How many made it through? Around 500 qualified after the MCQ test, followed by the viva, and then we got 651 officers today. These candidates had decided that they would enter the teaching profession,” he said.

The minister warned that delays were holding the country back from benefiting fully from its demographic dividend. They also delayed people's ability to support their families and contribute to the nation, he said.

Milon illustrated the problem by describing the time a student spends completing school and obtaining certificates. A child typically starts school at the age of six and sits for the SSC examination at 16. The examination process and issuance of the certificate take another year, meaning the student receives the SSC certificate at 17, he said.

“Another two years are allocated for intermediate education. The board examination process takes another year. In other words, to complete high school and obtain the Higher Secondary Certificate, a student spends 12 years in school. Starting at six, we reach the age of 20, even though the student is 18 by the time they complete the usual period of schooling. Two years have been taken away,” he added.

The education minister questioned whether administrative officials had calculated how many years were being lost from the lives of young people because of these delays.

“If 2 million students sit for two examinations, multiplying those 2 million students by two years means 4 million years. That time is being lost from the life of the nation. Who is responsible? The Ministry of Education and the education minister. I have to be accountable for this,” he said.

Milon said the delays continued to undermine the country's demographic dividend despite his efforts to address the problem since taking office.

“Even after becoming education minister, 4 million years are being lost from the nation's demographic dividend. I am trying to address these issues, but for one reason or another, I have not been able to overcome them,” he said.