Bangladesh cancels Cambridge's O, A level exams

Citing infavourable situation over the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has cancelled Cambridge International's Ordinary and Advanced level examinations in the country that were scheduled to be held in April.

In this regard, the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the education ministry served a notice to the country director of British Council Bangladesh on Tuesday.

The notice, signed by deputy secretary Anwarul Haque, stated that the decision has been taken considering the overall situation.

"As the coronavirus situation has not yet changed favourably, no public examinations of Bengali and general streams are being held to safeguard teachers and students. On the other hand, the United Kingdom as well as other neighbouring countries has decided not to hold examinations of Cambridge International," it said, adding that it will not be logical to hold the examination in Bangladesh in such a situation.

Meantime, the students of the English medium schools extended gratitude to the authorities.

"All the students are grateful to the government of Bangladesh, the Ministry of Education and Dr Dipu Moni for their right decision. It was Cambridge who was discriminating Bangladeshi students, and we were always hopeful that our government would always take a student-centred decision," said Md Nazmus Sakib Khan, an A-level student of Mastermind School of the capital.