Govt to introduce common exam papers for Madrasa, Technical Board

Bangladesh will introduce a unified examination system for compulsory and common subjects across the general, madrasa, and technical education boards from next year, Education and Primary Education Minister Dr. A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon announced on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meeting with centre secretaries ahead of the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations at Azimpur Girls' School and College in Dhaka, Milon said there was no logical justification for conducting examinations with different question papers despite having a single education ministry and a common national curriculum. He noted that the nine general education boards would adopt unified question papers this year, while the madrasa and technical education boards would join the system next year for compulsory subjects such as Bangla and English.

The adviser also cautioned examination officials to ensure the meticulous handling and distribution of question papers. He said the papers had been dispatched from the Bangladesh Government Press (BG Press) under strict procedures and instructed local administrators and education authorities to coordinate closely to prevent any mismatch of examination codes. He warned that negligence or administrative lapses would invite stringent disciplinary action, stressing that an apology would not absolve those found responsible.

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Milon also addressed broader challenges facing the education sector, including recruitment delays, litigation, and institutional irregularities. He criticised what he described as repeated legal challenges that have impeded teacher recruitment and professional training, while reiterating the government's commitment to reforming the National Teacher Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). He further announced measures to bring unregulated educational institutions under a structured regulatory framework and said a high-level committee had already been formed to strengthen coordination between Ebtedayee and primary education while enhancing overall governance across the sector.