Dhaka: Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Sunday said the government is considering reducing the time period of holding public examinations.

‘If an examination runs for a longer period, the applicants sometimes suffer from anxieties, while many educational institutions remain closed for an unusual time. More importantly, we have to ensure security to check question paper leak,’ he said.

The minister was talking to reporters during his visit to an examination centre at Siddheswari Girls College in the capital during the first day of this year’s HSC and equivalent examinations, reported UNB.

The Education Ministry is looking for a way how the time period of examinations could be reduced, said Nahid adding that the cooperation of guardians is needed to do that.

The HSC and its equivalent examinations began across the country on Sunday, and that will end on June 9. The practical tests will be held form June 11 to June 20.

Coaching centres, photocopy shops and Facebook have been brought under the scanner to prevent question paper leak in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations, the minister said.

He said the government has taken all-out preparations to hold the HSC and its equivalent examinations in a peaceful and copy-free environment.

Tight security measures have been taken to prevent question papers leak, said Nahid. He, however, expressed worry that a particular quarter is trying to destroy the examination-friendly atmosphere spreading a rumor of question paper leakage.

Asking all to stay alert against such rumors, he said tight surveillance has also been put in place in the process of question paper printing and transportation.

The Education Minister said the law enforcers like Rab and Detective Brach (DB) of police are performing their duties to ensure a congenial atmosphere for the examinations.

Over 12.18 lakh students under eight general education boards, Madrasah Education Board and Bangladesh Technical Education Board are appearing in the examinations.