She said the futile discussions will only mount pressure on the students who are already under huge mental pressure due to the closure of educational institutions for a long time.

“The negative comments regarding the results will create a psychological pressure on the students. I request those making such comments to stop (doing it),” she said while announcing the results of HSC and equivalent exams of 2020.

The results were officially announced at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka’s Segunbagicha while Prime Minister Hasina joined through a videoconference from Ganobhaban.

Also Read: HSC results: Reports on three amendment bills placed

Since no exam took place amid the coronavirus pandemic, the HSC results were evaluated based on the students’ Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Secondary School Certificate (SSC) results. The results were published after coordinating 75 percent of the SSC and 25 percent from the JSC-JDC results.

The Prime Minister said many people are saying many things. “But I think it would be better not to make unnecessary comments or create bitterness,” she said.

Hasina said all have to look at the academic life of the children and students as they must not be made upset.

“Already, they aren’t going to schools, colleges and universities, this has created a big hurdle in their lives. In this situation, any negative comment regarding their results and its system will create mental pressure on them,” she said.

About skipping the HSC and equivalent exams, Hasina said the government was compelled to look at the health security of the students, teachers and other employees and took this decision.

“Many people are making sentimental statements but if anyone gets infected while doing this job (holding and attending exams) who would take the responsibility?” she questioned.

Regarding the reopening of educational institutions, the Prime Minister said if everybody follows the health guidelines properly then it will come under control and “we will be able to reopen our educational institutions very soon. The government will observe the situation in February as it spread massively in the country in March last year.”

Also read: HSC results on Saturday

Hasina went on saying, “If a good situation prevails in February, then we’ll take steps to reopen educational institutions on a limited scale…we have a plan like that.”

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni and Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel also spoke at the programme.

Chairmen of various education Boards handed over their results to the Prime Minister. The Education Minister received the results on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Legitimising the results

On January 24, three amendment bills were passed in Parliament, aiming to publish the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations.

These bills were- 'Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill, 2021', 'Bangladesh Technical Education Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021' and 'Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021'.

As per the previous laws, there was no provision to publish the results of the HSC and its equivalent examinations without holding examinations.

The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations were postponed in October 2019 due to the Covid-19 situation.

Also Read: Do not gather at schools, education institutes for HSC results: Education Ministry

In October 2020, the Education Ministry formed a seven-member technical committee headed by additional secretary of the ministry Nazmul Haque Khan for developing a method of evaluating the candidates based on their previous SSC and JSC results.

The HSC batch of 2020 is the first batch of students who are getting certificates without sitting for the examinations as it is the first time in Bangladesh’s history that a public examination has been cancelled.

Thanks to all concerned

The Prime Minister said it was a tough job to publish the results without taking any examination and she thanked the Education Ministry and all concerned for doing that job properly.

“We never want that a precious year will go away from the lives of students. Let their academic life continue… we want that. Hope, all will be happy with their results and continue their studies. Their fates depend on their next exams,” she said.

Call Centre

Briefly describing various steps taken by the government for continuing academic activities at different levels of students through various means, she said the government is going to introduce a call centre (3336) from where the students will get advice regarding their lessons.

Also read: HSC, equivalent exams results published

The Prime Minister urged the students to actively participate in these programmes for their studies.

Formative Assignment System

Talking about the formative assignment system and evolution through this, Sheikh Hasina said she thinks that this system is a scientific one and by this system proper, a scope could be found to judge ones merit properly.

Covid-19 Vaccine

Regarding the vaccine Sheikh Hasina said the government has already procured vaccine and the vaccination programme has started in the country.

She said the government is implementing all available means to face the Covid-19 pandemic and asked the authorities concerned to ensure quick vaccination of teachers and the other people concerned.