The government has taken an initiative to reschedule the country’s public examinations to make the academic calendar more time-appropriate and better aligned with international standards.

Under the plan, the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will be held in January, while the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations will take place in June from the next academic year, Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon told Parliament on Tuesday.

He disclosed the plan while replying to a starred question from treasury bench lawmaker Lutfur Rahman (Cox’s Bazar-3). The day’s sitting resumed with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair.

The minister said the move aims to gradually bring greater consistency between the start of the academic year and the schedule of public examinations, while reducing the loss of valuable academic time for students.

He said the government was also working in phases to bring forward the schedule of public examinations further in the future as part of broader education reforms.