Class XI students to get promotion without exams

The students of Class XI will be promoted to Class XII automatically as higher secondary educational institutions across the country were unable to hold final examinations due to the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Education recently gave consent to educational institutions in this regard, sources at the ministry told The Business Standard. Some institutions have already implemented the decision to promote their Class XI students to Class XII, they added.

Responding to a query, Chairman of Dhaka Education Board and also coordinator of all boards, Professor Ziaul Haque said, "We always supervise the educational institutions to ensure quality education.

"Higher secondary institutions have no practice of promoting students without final examinations, but this year's situation is exceptional. They can promote their students without exams if they want and we will not interfere with their decision."

He added that there is actually no other alternative but to promoting the students automatically.

A total of about 18 lakh students are studying at Class XI in nearly 10,000 higher secondary educational institutions throughout the country.

The Motijheel Ideal School and College has already promoted their students and started classes for XII courses.

Shahan Ara Begun, principal of Motijheel Ideal School and College said, "We had taken the theoretical examinations of Class XI students in March, but we did not take the practical examinations. The students already got their promotion.

"We started online classes for Class XII courses in April. We will request the guardians to pay the fees, and I hope they will do it with the highest priority."

Meanwhile, Dr Fouzia, principal of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, said, "We are yet to take any decision regarding the promotion of Class XI students. But we have given all of them permission to attend online classes for Class XII courses.

"We could not take the final examination and we do not know when the situation will return to normal. So we are going to make the decision to promote students without holding a final examination."

Dr Fouzia added that the institution will admit new students for Class XI through online soon and this is why they will promote the previous batch automatically.

The classes of XI courses started on July 1 last year. Most educational institutions hold the final examinations in April every year. But this year, no institution managed to do it completely because of the coronavirus situation. 

Sujit Hasan, a student of Notre Dame College, said the institution's authorities asked them to take admission for the Class XII after paying the fees. "We will get admitted to Class XII soon," he said.

Meanwhile, around 13 lakh students have registered to participate in the HSC examinations, but the education ministry hinted not to hold it before the situation returns to normal.

The schedules of Junior School Certificate and Primary Education Completion examinations also remain uncertain.

Sources said the education ministry is planning to extend the current academic year till March next year. The syllabus will also be shortened.