Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Tuesday said the introduction of uniform question papers for examinations across the country would mark the first step towards reforming Bangladesh’s education system and bringing it under a single, coordinated framework.
Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with officials of the Chattogram Education Board, as well as regional madrasa and technical education boards, at the Chattogram College auditorium, the minister stressed the need for a unified education structure operating under one umbrella.
He also announced that the results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will be published on 20 July.
Addressing challenges in the education sector, the minister expressed concern over the administrative arrangements in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, where recruitment of primary school teachers and, in some cases, higher secondary-level personnel is conducted through the Hill District Councils of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.
He said the Education Ministry’s limited jurisdiction in these areas creates governance challenges and hinders efforts to establish a fully integrated national education system.
“My vision is one Bangladesh. There should not be another Bangladesh within Bangladesh,” Milon said, adding that meaningful reforms in education would help strengthen national cohesion.
He also noted that the actions of a small number of individuals often undermine otherwise positive initiatives.
Responding to concerns raised by teachers during the meeting, the minister said the government is considering establishing separate examination centre for every four unions to ease difficulties associated with examination management and accessibility.
To enhance transparency in the assessment process, he said answer scripts from all education boards would be selected randomly for review to ensure consistency and fairness in marking.
“We will randomly examine answer scripts from all boards to determine whether marks have been awarded appropriately,” he said.
Referring to question paper leaks, Milon described the issue as one of the most significant challenges facing the country’s education system in recent years.
He said the Education Ministry and law enforcement agencies are working together to eliminate leak syndicates and ensure greater transparency in public examinations.
The minister also said he had personally overseen security arrangements at printing presses as part of efforts to prevent question leaks and maintain the integrity of examinations.
Speaking as a special guest, State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin said Bangladesh must focus on producing enlightened citizens in addition to educated graduates in order to build a prosperous and progressive nation.
Helal also criticised the disparity between rising literacy rates and educational quality, saying the decline in standards was contributing to social problems, including juvenile gangs, disorder, terrorism and corruption.
