DHAKA: The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations have begun across the country Wednesday morning simultaneously amid nationwide nonstop road-rail-waterway blockade, sponsored by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The tests began at 10:00am at a total of 2,419 centers across over the country. A total of 1,073,884 students under 10 education boards, including one madrasah and one technical board, have registered to sit for the exams from 8,305 educational institutions.

Of the total students, 570,993 are boys and 502,891 are girls.

Besides, a total of 241 students are appearing the examinations from seven overseas centers.

Besides, a total of 886,933 students have registered to sit for the examinations from eight general education boards while 84,360 from madrasah board, 98,247 from vocational and 4,344 from DIBS.

The written examinations will end on June 11 while the practical examinations are scheduled to begin on June 13 and end by June 22.

At the first day, the examinations of Bangla I Part (compulsory), Sahaj Bangla I Part, Bangla Language and Bangladesh Culture I Part, and Bangla I Part (compulsory) of Diploma in Business Studies (DIBS) are being held under the eight general education boards.

Test of Quran Mazid is being held under madrasha education board.  Tests are scheduled to be held under vocational education board in two shifts – morning and evening.

Tests of Bangla-2 of Business Managements and Diploma-in-Commerce are being held this morning.

Tests of Banlga-1 (creative) of Business Managements and Bangla-1 (creative, new syllabus) and Bangla-1 (creative, old syllabus) of Business Managements will be held in the afternoon.
 
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid will visit Viquarunnisa Noon School and College center during the tests.

Meanwhile, the ministry has taken all-out preparation to hold the test for Thursday despite hartal and blockade. BNP-led 20-party alliance has called a hartal for Thursday.

Nahid told banglanews on Tuesday afternoon that no change will be made in test schedule of HSC and its equivalent examinations.

All preparation has been completed and arrangement of additional law enforcement has been taken, the minister added.

Nahid said ‘Whatever it is necessary for the students’ security that has been taken.  They (students) will go for the tests without fear.”

This year a total of 25 tests will be held in creative method and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) examination will carry 100 marks for the first time.

Physically-challenged students will get 20 minutes extra during the tests.

Education Ministry will keep a control room open, led by a deputy secretary, during the tests, Nahis informed.  One can contact dialing either any of theses numbers 9549396, 01711-317136, 01777-707705 and 01777-707706 or sending email to examcontrolroom@moedu.gov.bd.

BDST: 1027 HRS, APR 01, 2015