Masum Billah :
In response to the students’ demonstration the Ministry of Education has canceled the remaining Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations and decided to give an auto-pass following the results of the examinations already taken.
It is known to us that the HSC and equivalent certification examination started on June 30 and due to` anti-discrimination movement’ of the students and its following turmoil, the situation compelled the authorities concerned to postpone the examination.
It was finally decided to resume the examination from 11 September. The examinees did not agree to the decision when the ministry decided to reduce the marks from 100 to 50 and defer the postponed exams by two or more weeks for the rest of the subjects that were also rejected by the students.
Rejecting the decisions, the students stormed into the secretariat around noon on 19 August through different gates. Under the banner of ‘All students of HSC 2024 – Dhaka’, several hundred students gathered in front of the Building 6 where the education ministry’s office stands. They chanted slogans to acknowledge their demands for cancelation of the remaining exams and publish results in an alternative way.
In one sense it sounds very popular that anyone of the democratic republic can enter the fortified secretariat, the heart of state administration.
However, we must maintain the sanctity and secrecy of some state institutions and organizations. It is our solemn responsibility to obey the rules and regulations established by us. If not, law enforcing agencies don’t allow anyone to enter those places without valid documents. But now things have become open to all. That also does not prove to be a good practice.
Then, intermediate students have entered the secretariat to press home their demands. That is exciting. When we were in the intermediate class, it was beyond our imagination to enter the secretariat. But the demand placed by the students does not hold good as it reflects their own interest evading the usual course of action.
Now the results for the postponed subjects will be determined by mapping those to the subjects of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations.
The students also organized a demonstration in front of the Dhaka Education Board on 19 August to press home their same demand. One pertinent point surfaces here. What the students have done in the country through their `anti-discrimination movement’ stands as a rare example in the entire globe and definitely the most massive scale demonstration Bangladesh has ever seen.
The students from all levels namely university, college, school came to the street to support the noble cause against the discrimination the state has nurtured through quota system. When the heroes of the movement and revolution do something in favour of their benefits it may tend to undermine their glory at least a little. That should have been taken into consideration.
But we cannot deny the fact that an uncountable number of students are still groaning under pain in various hospitals, clinics and homes and many are still struggling with death. Almost every day, one or two seriously injured students are leaving us forever. This phenomenon allows us to accept the demands of the HSC and equivalent candidates as they explain ‘we cannot sit for the examination keeping our friends and classmates in the hospital bed.
We cannot give attention to studies at all. We have been seriously traumatized due to the brutal attack and killing mission on our classmates and friends by the ousted government.’’ We definitely salute your concern. We have every sympathy for the injured students and a special arrangement should have been proposed for them only without getting all the HSC examinees included in it.
The auto-pass culture may have adverse impacts on the lives of the students in future and the education system. They may face criticism throughout their lives and would face problems while taking admissions at higher educational institutions as brilliant and average students would get similar grades. Not only that, this culture may encourage any vested interest group to demonstrate to realize their semi-legal or illegal demands that must not be entertained in the greater interest of the nation.
We salute and evaluate your role, dedication, sacrifice and the contribution for the greater cause of the nation. Surely, you are going to take the lead of the nation in the days to come. That means you should prepare yourself accordingly without bowing down to some silly benefits and facilities. You must prove how much resistance power you have acquired to face any kind of odds confronting you.
You must be ready to face any kind of challenge. We can remember our university days which were seriously tormented by Ershad regime and all the university campuses were frequently rocked by student movements to oust the Ershad government. We were in Master’s class. The department announced the date of our exams but tension gripped us as we could not concentrate on studies because of the tumultuous atmosphere prevailing in all the campuses.
Many of us also apprehended crossing the age limit for government jobs. So, holding exams earlier was necessary but the situation was against us. However, our chairman sir just told us,’’ This is a university. Politics will be here. Chanting slogans, fighting and even killing will take place on the campus. Side by side, you have to sit for the examinations in the midst of this situation. That will prove your resistance to face more challenges that may come ahead.’’. We followed our teacher and sat for the exam being in the turbulent atmosphere. That’s a great learning
(The author is President – English Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (ETAB). He taught in Cadet Colleges, Rajuk College and worked as Chief of Party-BRAC Education and Country Director – VAB Bangladesh. Email: [email protected])
