O-level exams to begin Monday

Ordinary Level examinations are scheduled to begin from Monday, three days after the Advanced Level examinations kicked off.

British Council is hosting the examinations following guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Department amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A- and O-level examinations will continue till October 23.

The education ministry issued a notice on September 23, allowing the authorities concerned to hold the examinations on condition that they follow health guidelines, allowing 1,800 students to take exams every day at 35 venues, maintaining a six-foot gap between examinees.

It said the British Council will have to bear responsibility if any student is infected with Covid-19.

On September 30, the High Court turned down a writ petition seeking a stay on the holding the O- and A-level examinations this year amid the pandemic.

A-level student Tamanna Tabassum Kabir filed the writ petition on Sep 27 stating that students failed to prepare for the examination as classes remained suspended for six months.

On September 23, the British Council in a statement said this year the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), advanced and ordinary level examinations under October-November (2020) session will be held in due time.

It also secured approval from the education ministry in this regard.