Negligent SSC examiners to face penalty
Teachers found negligent in evaluating answer scripts of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will be held accountable and face disciplinary action, Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milan said on Tuesday.
“Three thousand and 79 students received GPA-5 after challenging their SSC results. This raises a question—how did the number increase so significantly? Shouldn’t the examiners be held accountable?” the minister said.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the National University Scholarship and Vice-Chancellor Award ceremony held at the International Mother Language Institute in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, on Tuesday afternoon.
The education minister said teachers who failed to properly evaluate students’ answer scripts would have to face accountability.
“Those examiners who did not properly assess the answer scripts must be held accountable. They will have to face punishment,” he said.
The minister said the government was working to ensure that textbooks for the next academic year reach students by December.
“We are working hard to ensure that the books reach students on time. We took responsibility at a very fragile stage. We came in when everything was plagued by corruption. There are many challenges ahead of us,” he said.
Milan also pledged to eliminate session jams at the National University and improve the academic performance and employability of its students.
“There will be no more session jams at the National University. I want the students’ next results to be better. Students should not remain unemployed after graduation,” he said.
He called for closer monitoring of classrooms, reform of the university’s curriculum and introduction of courses based on labour-market demand. He also stressed the need for training for teachers.
Speaking about allegations of increased fees for law courses, the minister questioned the need for the National University to increase its income by raising student fees.
“I read in the newspapers that the National University is earning a lot of money. The fees for filling out forms for law courses have been doubled or tripled. Why? Is the National University meant to earn and increase money? Why is there such a need for money?” he asked.
He warned that the Education Ministry could not be used to justify excessive charges.
“The Education Ministry cannot be used as a shield for such actions. I also know how to pull the trigger. I will solve all these problems,” he said.
National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Amanullah, Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khaleque, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Director General Professor Dr Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel and other officials attended the programme.
The National University introduced the Vice-Chancellor Award for the first time this year, with 57 students receiving the award. Guests handed the awards to the recipients at the ceremony.
