Exams must continue, says minister Milon

Education Minister Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon on Saturday said examinations remain indispensable for assessing students' merit and awarding academic certificates, dismissing misinformation surrounding proposed education reforms.

Speaking at the inauguration of academic activities and the unveiling of the nameplate of Naogaon University at the Sadar Upazila Parishad Auditorium, the minister said the government is prioritising technical and vocational education as part of a broader effort to build a skilled workforce through a modern, employment-oriented education system.

Despite economic constraints and the impact of past irregularities, Milon said the government has significantly increased the education budget from Tk 87,000 crore to Tk 136,000 crore. He added that efforts are underway to raise education spending to 5 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Describing Naogaon University as a new milestone in higher education, the minister said the university has begun its academic journey with 80 students and will eventually be shifted to its own permanent campus. He also stressed the need to establish an internationally standard School of Agriculture at the university to meet local demands.

Milon said the government is considering restructuring the legal framework governing Naogaon and Bogura universities to allow the introduction of a broader range of faculties, including business studies, social sciences, medicine and nursing, alongside science and technology programmes.

Referring to what he described as misleading campaigns on social media regarding the examination system, the minister said, "It is not possible to assess merit or award certificates without examinations." He added that attempts to spread misinformation about education reforms and mislead young people would not succeed.

Explaining the recent decision to delay an HSC examination by one hour in Cumilla due to waterlogging, Milon said the move was taken on humanitarian grounds to protect the interests of examinees. He also urged the media to act responsibly while reporting rumours related to question paper leaks.

The minister further said the government plans to reduce session backlogs by introducing a revised examination schedule from 2027, under which the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations will be held in January and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations in March.

Naogaon University, established in 2023, received approval from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on December 3, 2025, to launch two academic departments "Law under the Faculty of Law and Accounting and Information Systems under the Faculty of Business Studies. Admissions for the 2025"26 academic session have already been completed, marking the formal commencement of the university's academic activities.

The event, chaired by Naogaon University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Hasanat Ali, was attended by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives State Minister Mir Shahe Alam, Education Secretary Abdul Khaleque, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, UGC Member Professor Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, Director of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Professor Dr. Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, Bogura University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Kudrat-E-Jahan, lawmakers from Naogaon's six parliamentary constituencies, senior government officials, academics, teachers, students and invited guests. 

-KKH /  HIS