33,860 students absent on first day of SSC exams

A total of 33,860 students were absent across the country on the first day of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations.

Some two million students on Thursday sat for SSC and equivalent exams nearly seven months after they were initially scheduled due to delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic and floods.

The public exams kicked off with the Bangla first paper test at 3,790 centres across the country. The examinations started at 11am this year instead of 10am, considering the traffic conditions in the capital.

This year, some 20,21,868 students have registered themselves to take the SSC and equivalent exams, some 2,21,386 less than that of the last year.

Usually, the SSC and its equivalent exams take place in February, but this year the exams were deferred for about four months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Later, in mid-June, it was further postponed due to a deteriorating flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts.