SSC 'Question Leak': Nahid pledges steps if evidence found

Holding a section of teachers responsible for the alleged question paper leak, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday said the mathematics test in the ongoing SSC examination under Dhaka Board would be cancelled if evidence of leak was found.

“We have made all-out arrangements to stop leaks, but where would we go if a section of our teachers leak it,” he told The Daily Star last night.

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His remarks came a day after the allegation of question paper leak in mathematics exam held under the Dhaka Education Board on Sunday.

The minister said they heard about the allegation that the questions were leaked through Facebook and WhatsApp. On the other hand, there was another allegation that the questions were leaked soon after the test had begun, he added.

“We are looking into it. Without getting the right information we cannot cancel the examination of several thousands of students.

“We will find the truth and if we find that the questions were leaked and therefore had an impact on the exam, we will definitely take steps accordingly. We will find the people responsible,” Nahid said.

Mentioning the steps taken to check leaks, the minister said BG Press was a major place from where questions were leaked earlier.

“We ensured safe printing of the question papers...”

The minister further said the government, if needed, would use new technologies to check leaks.

“But ultimately we have to depend on the teachers... If they do not turn out to be trustworthy, where shall we go?”

There had been allegations of question leaks in the SSC, HSC and JSC examinations in the past several years. In most of the cases, questions were leaked allegedly via Facebook and SMS.

In 2014, a government enquiry committee found questions of English second paper, and mathematics second paper of the HSC examination under the Dhaka Board had been leaked.