No ‘silent expulsion’ in public exams: Education minister

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Saturday said there will be no provision for “silent expulsion” in the upcoming public examinations.

“Expelling any student without proper legal procedure is not lawful. I instructed the concerned authorities to abolish the controversial Clause 29 immediately of the old education board policy,” he said.

Milon said this to BSS after a meeting with the stakeholders to ensure the smooth holding of the upcoming Secondary School Certificate (SSC), Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC), and equivalent examinations, 2026.

Expressing surprise and dissatisfaction over the provision, the minister said, “There can be no such term as ‘silent expulsion.’ When we conducted examinations under the Public Examinations Act of 1980, there was no such rule. This is completely against the law.

He said if someone is to be punished, it must be done through due process or a transparent procedure. Whether a student has cheated or not must be proven in the examination hall itself, he said adding expelling someone silently while they are at home is in no way acceptable.

“We are confident that there is no possibility of disorder at examination centers now. Therefore, I have instructed that this clause in the policy be amended immediately,” he said.

Regarding the recent concerns and anxiety among students on social media about “silent expulsion,” the minister said that the policy related to the Secondary School Certificate examination was formulated in 1961. The confusion may have arisen from an outdated and inconsistent version of that policy, he said.

The minister also informed that the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee will soon issue a clarification notice on the matter.

Speaking about the decisions taken in the meeting, he said, “The HSC and equivalent examinations will begin on 2 July and will be completed within the following five weeks. All preparations have also been completed to ensure a smooth environment for the SSC and equivalent examinations starting on 21 April.”

Reassuring students, Milon said, “The stricter laws this time are not for students, but for teachers and center secretaries—to ensure they properly carry out their responsibilities. We are not chasing students; rather, we are focusing on improving the quality of education and ensuring accountability and competence among teachers.”

Highlighting government initiatives to improve education quality, he said that for the first time in the country’s history, written examinations have been conducted through Non-Government Teachers Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) for the recruitment of head teachers and principals, which will play an important role in enhancing the education system.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the ministry of education, chairmen of various education boards, and also, via Zoom, the deputy  commissioners, police superintendents, upazila nirbahi officers, education board officials, and teacher representatives from across the country.