SSC exams pushed to March 14, HSC dates unchanged

Bangladesh's Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations for 2027 will now begin on 14 March, a delay from earlier proposals, while the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) schedule remains unaltered, starting 6 June as previously announced.

Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon, addressing reporters on Monday following a recent visit to China, explained that the revised timeline reflects the need to accommodate Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr and adequate preparation time, following extensive consultation with parents and stakeholders. Earlier plans had proposed a January start, which would have concluded in early February, clashing with Ramadan's anticipated onset in mid-February; the ministry ultimately rejected calls to hold exams before Ramadan, judging that this would compromise students' preparation, particularly for ninth-graders requiring review time once tenth-grade syllabi concluded. Under the finalised schedule, theoretical papers run from 14 March to 15 April, with practical examinations concluding by 22 April, though individual education boards retain flexibility to adjust timings where necessary.

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The minister emphasised that barring extraordinary national circumstances, no further postponement is anticipated, noting that students were notified roughly eighteen months in advance. He added that the broader goal extends beyond exam scheduling alone, aiming to bring stability to public examination timetables and better align the education system with university admissions and international academic calendars, an ambition informed partly by his delegation's recent study of China's vocational and technical education model.