Bangladesh Considers Shifting 2027 SSC Exams from January to March

The Bangladesh education authorities are considering moving the 2027 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations from January to March, reversing an earlier plan to begin the exams on January 7.

The proposed change is being discussed in light of Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr and concerns raised by students and parents.

Professor Syed Akhtaruzzaman, chairman of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and Dhaka Education Board, said Wednesday (August 19) that the possibility of starting the examinations in March is currently under review.

“Considering the views of examinees and their parents, the issue of starting the SSC examinations in March is being reviewed. A final decision will be announced soon,” he said.

According to the education authorities, Ramadan is expected to begin in the second week of February next year. If the examination schedule is shifted, the SSC and equivalent exams could therefore begin around mid-March, after Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr.

However, officials stressed that no final decision has yet been made.

The possibility of changing the schedule comes after the government previously announced that the 2027 SSC and equivalent examinations would begin on January 7.

Education Minister A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milan announced the January 7 schedule on May 14. The decision subsequently sparked discussions among educationists, students and parents.

The minister later said on June 2 that the decision could be reconsidered if stakeholders called for a change.

A January examination could create additional pressure for the approximately 2 million students expected to sit for the SSC and equivalent exams, particularly because many students received textbooks late and have experienced changes in the curriculum.

The 2027 SSC candidates have had an unusual academic journey. They studied under the new curriculum introduced during the previous government from Grades 6 to 8, before moving to the revised 2010 curriculum in Grades 9 and 10.

Students had also been preparing for an examination schedule around April after experiencing delays in receiving textbooks during the interim government period.

As a result, many students and parents have expressed concern that bringing the examinations forward to January could leave students with insufficient preparation time.

The timing of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr is now one of the key factors being considered by the education authorities.

If the March schedule is approved, the examination could begin after the religious holidays, potentially giving students additional preparation time compared with the January plan.

Historically, SSC and equivalent examinations were generally held in February, while HSC and equivalent examinations were held around April. The academic calendar was significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent political developments.

This year, the SSC and equivalent examinations began in April, while the HSC and equivalent examinations started in July.

The government had initially planned to bring the SSC examinations forward to January to help reduce delays in students' academic progression.

For now, however, the January 7 schedule remains subject to review, with a final decision on whether the 2027 SSC exams will be held in January or March expected soon.