The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations have been postponed in Sylhet division until 8 July because of deteriorating flood situation.

However, the exams scheduled from 9 July will be held as per schedule in this division.

The decision has been taken at a meeting held at the Ministry of Education on Thursday. The HSC and its equivalent exams are scheduled to begin on 30 June across the country.

After the meeting, Prof Tapan Kumar Sarkar, chairman of Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and chairman of Dhaka Education Board, said, “An aggravating flood situation is prevailing in different districts of Sylhet division. The educational institutes in the division are being used as flood shelters. In such a situation, the students are unable to take part in exams.”

“Considering all aspects, the exams have been postponed till 8 July. The exams scheduled from 9 July will be held as per schedule,” he said. A total of 14,50,790 students from nine general education boards, Madrasah Board and Technical Board will sit for HSC exams. Of them, the number of examinees in Sylhet division is around one lakh.

Earlier, Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury informed that the exams will be postponed in the neighbourhood if it sees severe flooding.

The minister told journalists after a meeting held at the national secretariat on 5 June that initially the exams will be postponed in the regions where there is every possibility of severe flooding. We are prepared to take these exams later on. Summer vacation shortened in secondary schools

The government has decided to shorten the summer vacation in secondary-level educational institutes. The educational institutes will reopen on 26 June.   The Education Ministry’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), MA Khair, told the Daily Sun that the summer vacation was scheduled to continue till 2 July.