The government has brought significant amendments to Public Examinations Act 1980 to ensure transparency and accuracy in 2026 HSC and equivalent examinations.
Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon announced these changes during a press conference held on Wednesday at Ministry of Education’s conference room in Secretariat.
He warned that examiners would face strict legal action and punishment if any negligence or irregularity is detected during the evaluation of answer scripts.
“The days of evaluating scripts without accountability are over,” the minister said, noting that past instances of fraudulent mark alterations would no longer be tolerated. To maintain standards, the education boards will now conduct random sampling of evaluated scripts to check for over-marking or under-marking.
Structural reforms
To ensure a meticulous evaluation process, the government has increased the total number of examiners while reducing the individual script load per person.
Milon further noted that the 1980 Act has been thoroughly overhauled to include rigorous penalties for question paper leaks, fraud, and malpractice.
Teachers or officials found complicit in such offences will face severe punishment. As a precautionary measure against leaks, three sets of question papers have been prepared.
The minister confirmed that the police administration has been requested to maintain heightened security at examination centres, with personnel required to wear “body-on cameras.”
Additionally, individuals spreading rumours or misleading information about the exams on social media will be prosecuted under cyber laws.
Curriculum and coaching regulations
Addressing the transition to a new curriculum, Milon explained that it is not possible to implement the changes by 2027 due to time constraints. Instead, the new curriculum will be fully implemented starting in 2028.
On the issue of “coaching commerce,” he reiterated the government’s firm stance, attributing the reliance on coaching to gaps in institutional education.
To counter this, the government aims to conclude the admission process and start the academic year immediately after results are published.
Plans are also underway to introduce “in-house coaching” or extra classes within schools and to bring private coaching centres under formal regulation.
Describing the HSC examination as a student’s “high school graduation” and the most vital step in determining their future, Milon sought the cooperation of the public and the media to ensure the exams are conducted successfully.
The press conference was attended by the Prime Minister’s Education Adviser Mahdi Amin; Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khalek; and Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) Director General Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, alongside other senior officials from the Ministry and various education boards.
