The landscape of secondary and higher secondary examinations in Bangladesh is undergoing a transformation within the new curriculum. The changes entail conducting the SSC exam solely based on the class 10 syllabus, excluding the 9th-10th syllabus, while the HSC exam will be administered twice, once in the 11th grade and again in the 12th grade.
The primary objective behind this overhaul is to alleviate the exam pressure faced by students, as per the assertions of the education boards.
Commencing from January of this year, the new curriculum is being implemented, with class 9 curriculum updates already in effect. The introduction of public examinations at the culmination of classes 9 and 10 prompts questions regarding the implications for high-stakes exams like the SSC and HSC.
The nation's 11 education boards, encompassing general, technical, and madrasahs, are tasked with overseeing secondary and higher secondary level examinations. Prof Tapan Kumar Sarkar, President of the Bangladesh Inter-education Board Coordination Committee, explains that while the new curriculum integrates class 9 assessments, the SSC exam will assess only the syllabus of class 10, slated for the conclusion of 2025 or the onset of 2026.
Further elaborating on the assessment methodology, Prof Sarkar articulates that in the class 11 board exam, 30 percent of the evaluation will stem from learning assessments, with the remainder tied to the board exam. Similarly, in the 12th grade, 30 percent of the evaluation will be attributed to learning assessments, while the remaining 70 percent will be contingent on board exams.
The education boards assert that the bifurcation of the HSC exam will alleviate the examination burden on students by preventing simultaneous examinations of two classes at the SSC and HSC levels. According to Prof Sarkar, the essence of the new curriculum revolves around practical learning through project-based approaches, aimed at reducing memorization pressures and exam-related stress.
However, contrary views arise from educational researchers like Prof Abdus Salam of Dhaka University's Institute of Education and Research, who opines that the addition of a new public examination in the 11th grade will exacerbate student pressure. He advocates for streamlining the examination process by incorporating school-based assessments from previous classes into public examinations.
Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury reassures efforts towards simplifying the evaluation process for SSC and HSC exams. As per the new curriculum guidelines, the SSC exam is slated for 2026, while the HSC exam is scheduled for 2028, marking a pivotal juncture in Bangladesh's educational landscape.