A number of schools in the capital are holding two examinations in a single day to make up for the time lost due to political turmoil, putting schoolchildren under crumbling pressure.
A Class IX student of Ideal School and College said he took annual exam for physics and chemistry on Friday. ‘Taking two exams in one day, when the subjects are physics and chemistry, puts too much stress on us,’ he said.
Not only Class IX students but also Class VI and VII students of the school took two exams on the day.
The school principal, Shahan Ara Begum, said they had no alternative to arranging two exams in a single day to make up for the time lost due to hartal and blockade.
Sarwar Rahman, a guardian, said two exams in a day were obviously putting pressure on the students and it was because of the political conflict.
Usually annual examinations of Class I-IV and VI–IX are held in late November and early December.
This year, the timetable has been hampered due to frequent general strikes and blockades since the last week of October.
Since October 25, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance enforced countrywide general strikes for 10 days in October 27-29, November 4-6 and 10-12 and on November 14.
The opposition alliance enforced blockade in November 26-28, in November 30-December 5 and for the third time in December 7- November 13.
Most city schools remained open on Friday even though it was a weekend. From the morning, guardians were seen taking their kids to schools.
Almost all educational institutions from primary to higher education level in Dhaka and elsewhere remained open on Friday to hold examinations or make up academic activities that could not be held because of the blockades and strikes.
Classes and examinations were held at private universities. Many city colleges were also open on Friday.
Authorities of different schools, including Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Ideal School and College, Mothijhell Model School and College, Mohhamdpur Preparatory Higher Secondary School and others said they took annual exams on the day.
Ideal School and College principal Shahan Ara Begum said if they had to take examinations only on Fridays, it would not be possible for them to complete annual exams this year.
Teachers said most schools were struggling to complete their annual examinations because of political violence.
Schedules for university admission tests were in jeopardy as political turmoil were disrupting the admission process.
This year, Primary Education Completion Examinations, Junior School Certificate examinations of four days were deferred. Several examinations of the SSC and the HSC were also deferred because of the political turmoil.
-With New Age input
