DHAKA: More than 23 Lakh students will sit for this year’s primary terminal examinations to be held in October.

Abu Alam Muhammad Shaheed Khan, Secretary of Primary and Mass Education Ministry told banglanews24.com.bd Monday, “The Primary Terminal Exam will be held in late October before Eid-Ul Azha”.

There are around 83,000 primary schools in the country; among those 37,000 are government.

Examinations of six subjects -- Bangla, English, Paribesh Parichiti Samaj (social science), Paribesh Parichiti Bigyan (Science) and Religion will be held in three days.

“The question papers will be prepared centrally and exams will be held on same days across the country”, Khan said.

Earlier, there is a decision that the exam of this year will be held in November. But the ministry changes its decision, he said.

Last year the government held this public exam as a test case. The exam was held on 25 January this year. Some 83 percent of the participated students passed in that exam, but the results were not necessary to get enrolled them to the next class.   

The Secretary said, “This year’s exams will be held in October and results will be published in late November. Then the students will get admit to the next academic year accordingly their results. Unsuccessful students would not be able to get enrolled into the next class.”
 
“The examination is considered the largest public examination in the country”, Muhammad Fosiullah, Deputy Director, Department of Primary Education (DPE) told banglanews24.com.bd Monday.

“DPE will organize a workshop on July 8 for taking preparation of the exams where the officials concerned will take part,” Fosiullah said.

Abu Alam Muhammad Shaheed Khan also said a steering committee, headed by Primary and Mass Education Minister Afsarul Amin, will monitor all activities related to the examination.”

The present government introduced the new public exam in place of primary scholarship examination with a view to ensuring equal education to all students. From now on, there will be no separate scholarship examination, said ministry sources.  

The students must pass the terminal exam to get enrolled in class VI. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of their results in two categories – talent pool and general-- half to boys and half to girls.

Earlier, only 40 percent of primary school students across the country used to sit for the scholarship exam.

BDST: 1935 HRS. July 5, 2010