Uncertainty surrounding the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations continues to deepen, as fresh challenges have emerged following the cancellation of the revised curriculum and the decision to hold the examinations solely on the Class 10 syllabus for one year. The latest concern is that the SSC and equivalent examinations may be delayed by at least three months due to the national parliamentary election, the holy month of Ramadan, and the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
Officials of the education boards said that SSC and equivalent examinations are usually held in February. However, the 13th National Parliamentary Election is scheduled to take place in February 2026. Ramadan will begin immediately after the election, followed by Eid-ul-Fitr. Holding public examinations during Ramadan and the Eid holidays is considered impractical, leaving no realistic opportunity to conduct the examinations in February.
The schedules of all public examinations, including SSC and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams, are determined by the Bangladesh Inter-Board Coordination Committee. The committee’s examination controller is Professor SM Kamal Uddin Haider, who currently serves as the Controller of Examinations of the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board.
Speaking to the media on Sunday night (21 December), Professor Haider said that no final decision has yet been made regarding the examination date. However, he acknowledged that it is evident that holding the examinations in February is not feasible. He said discussions are ongoing and a decision will be announced after consultations.
He added that this is not the first time SSC examinations have been delayed, noting that examinations have previously been rescheduled due to special circumstances. He cited the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, during which major changes were made to the examination schedule. After recovering from that disruption, the examination timetable is again facing interruptions due to the upcoming election. He described such delays as understandable under exceptional circumstances and said there is no cause for undue concern.
A review of SSC examination schedules over the past five years highlights the irregularities. Until 2020, SSC and equivalent examinations typically began in the first week of February and concluded within March. In 2021, however, the examinations were postponed due to the COVID-19 situation and began on 14 November. In 2022, the SSC examinations started on 15 September, followed by 30 April in 2023. After the impact of the pandemic eased, the examinations returned to a relatively normal timeframe in 2024, beginning on 15 February. In 2025, the schedule was again delayed, with SSC and equivalent examinations starting on 10 April.
Meanwhile, the form fill-up process for the 2026 SSC and equivalent examinations will begin on 31 December and continue until 10 January. Examination fees can be submitted until 11 January. However, no final decision has yet been made regarding the start date of the examinations.
Professor Haider said that a meeting on the issue may be held later this week or early next week, where the schedule will be finalised. He noted that Eid-ul-Fitr is expected in the third week of March, creating the possibility of scheduling the examinations in early April after the holidays. He added that authorities will also consider whether the examinations can be completed before Eid-ul-Azha if conducted over a period of around one month and ten days.
He said all factors will be taken into account in finalising the timetable and assured that a decision will be announced soon.
