Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon on Wednesday said all educational institutions would be required to provide in-house coaching to students to ensure completion of the syllabus and improve academic preparedness.
Addressing a meeting with central secretaries and district education officers on the upcoming HSC and equivalent examinations at Azimpur Government Girls' School and College in the capital, the minister said school authorities should work with governing bodies to implement the initiative effectively.
“Every school must provide in-house coaching to students,” he said.
The minister also announced plans to restructure the public examination calendar in a bid to reduce academic delays and prevent the loss of students' productive years.
Under the proposed schedule, Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations from 2027 will be held in January, with results expected by July 20. Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will begin on July 2, he said.
Milon noted that students currently complete SSC examinations at around the age of 16, but delays in examinations and result publication often push completion of higher secondary education close to the age of 20.
He said the ministry was working to synchronise examination schedules and result publication while taking Ramadan and Eid into consideration in preparing the 2027 SSC timetable.
“The examination schedule is being finalised after consulting students, teachers and guardians. However, the prescribed syllabus will be completed in full,” he said.
Taking a firm stance against examination malpractice, the minister said the nature of cheating had evolved with technological advancements, making amendments to public examination laws necessary.
“If evidence of cheating or digital fraud is found in any institution, not only the examinee but also the head of the concerned institution will be held accountable,” he warned.
Referring to the financial crisis involving retired teachers, Milon alleged that around Tk 70 billion from retirement funds had been embezzled during the previous administration.
“Not a single teacher who retired since 2022 has received retirement benefits until now,” he said.
The minister also highlighted a severe shortage of head teachers in primary schools, attributing the problem to prolonged litigation.
“We could not appoint 32,500 head teachers because of a single case pending before the court. Of them, another 17,000 teachers have since retired,” he said.
According to Milon, more than 60,000 primary schools are currently operating without head teachers, while the education system remained constrained for years by legal disputes and administrative deadlock.
