Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel
Over 2 million students sitting for SSC, equivalent exams starting today
The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for 2024 started today, with over 2 million students from 29,735 educational institutions expected to participate. The Ministry of Education has announced that the exams will start at 10 am across 3,700 centers nationwide.
To ensure the integrity of the examination process, no mobile phones or electronic devices will be permitted within the exam centers, except for a basic phone set without internet access to be used exclusively by the hall secretary. The question code will be disclosed 25 minutes prior to the start of each exam, streamlining the process for students and staff alike.
DMP forms 'quick response team' to ease movements of SSC examinees
In a notable departure from tradition, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel has decided not to visit any examination centers this year, aiming to reduce the stress levels among students.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Traffic Department is taking proactive measures to facilitate a smooth commute for examinees by forming a "quick response team." This initiative is designed to address any transportation issues students might face en route to their examination centers.
Md Munibur Rahman, the Additional Commissioner (Traffic) of the DMP, emphasized the importance of students planning their travel to arrive at least 30 minutes before their exams begin. He also offered guidance for navigating traffic safely, advising students to use foot over bridges and zebra crossings where available and to seek assistance from traffic police in case of congestion or other issues.
2 SSC exam centres along BD-Myanmar border relocated
Don’t want to cause them stress: Education Minister says won’t visit SSC exam centers
In a decisive move aimed at minimizing the anxiety levels among students, Bangladesh's Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel announced his decision to refrain from visiting Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination centers this year. The announcement, made through a press release by the Education Ministry on Monday (February 05, 2024), underscores the minister’s concern over the psychological impact such official visits have on students, including heightened stress and public inconvenience.
Nowfel urges to refrain from unhealthy politics over opposing curriculum
Minister Nowfel pointed out the inadvertent “harassment situation and mental agony” that his presence might cause, exacerbating the challenges students already face during this critical examination period. He also expressed his commitment to prioritizing the wellbeing of examinees over traditional inspection practices.
Nowfel wants new unis to refrain from running undergraduate courses at start of journey
The disruption caused by such visits, including delayed entry of students into examination centers, was also a key concern cited by the minister. He took the opportunity to remind the public and officials of the legal framework governing access to examination halls, emphasizing that “only the designated center inspector is allowed entry into the exam hall,” as per existing regulations.
Nowfel to prioritise innovation, performance over ceremonial aspects
Education Minister addresses controversy over ‘Sharifa’s story’ in textbook
Bangladesh's Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel today (January 23, 2024) addressed the media regarding the ongoing controversy over a story featured in a textbook.
“We plan to consult with experts about the story of Sharifa discussed in the textbook. If there's any confusion or misrepresentation, changes will be made,” Chowdhury told reporters at the Secretariat.
The story of Sharifa previously sparked debate, and currently, some are protesting over its content. The Education Minister emphasized the need for a thorough discussion with National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) to understand why the story is eliciting such reactions.
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He expressed concern about certain groups’ tendency to exploit religious sentiments and instigate instability and anarchy in the country, and said, “A few days ago, some recommendations were given to me from an organization. Some Qawmi madrasa teachers claimed that the word ‘transgender’ has been used in the textbook. However, upon examination, it was clarified that the term used was ‘third gender’.”
“In our society, third gender individuals, commonly known as ‘Hijra,’ are legally recognized citizens with rights," Minister Chowdhury clarified.
He further added, “If the presentation of the story leads to misunderstandings and controversies, we will discuss with experts whether we can modify its presentation while respecting the dignity of the third gender individuals. This is a specialized issue, and we don’t want to comment at a policy level.”
Responding to a question about the BRAC University controversy, the Education Minister said, “We will discuss this matter with BRAC University and understand the issue through the University Grants Commission, following which a detailed discussion will be held.”
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