Dhaka, June 16 (V7N) — The Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has issued a set of emergency directives to ensure strict health and hygiene protocols at all centers during the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations. The move comes in response to the growing threat of coronavirus and dengue outbreaks across the country.

The directives, signed by Professor Dr. Khandokar Ehsanul Kabir, Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board and President of the Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, were announced on Monday.

According to the directive, wearing masks will be mandatory for all individuals entering examination centers, including students, teachers, and staff. Hand sanitizers must be provided at the entrances, and the surroundings of the centers must be kept clean to prevent mosquito breeding. Additionally, mosquito repellent should be sprayed inside and around the centers before the start of examinations, with assistance from the local administration if needed.

The order also mandates that seating arrangements inside exam halls be made in accordance with board guidelines to maintain proper spacing. Furthermore, a medical team must remain on standby at every center, with constant communication maintained with the Civil Surgeon or Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer.

To raise awareness and maintain order, local administration officials have been instructed to help prevent crowds of guardians from gathering outside examination centers.

Besides health guidelines, the board also reminded students to use only approved model calculators to maintain the integrity of the examinations.

As per the schedule, this year’s HSC and equivalent examinations are set to begin on June 26 and will continue until August 10. The practical examinations will be held from August 11 to August 21.

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