Education Minister calls for media vigilance against SSC rumours
Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today urged the mainstream media to play a stronger and more responsible role in preventing misinformation and rumours circulating on social media regarding the ongoing SSC examinations.
“Verifying the authenticity of any news before publication is a moral obligation, so that students and parents are not misled,” he said.
The minister made these remarks while responding to journalists after a programme at the University Grants Commission (UGC) in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Responding to a question about rumours of question paper leaks being spread through platforms like Telegram and Facebook, he said that information is being manipulated on such platforms.
However, he stressed that mainstream media must properly verify news before publishing it.
He also noted that a television channel had aired a report without proper verification the previous day, expressing expectations for more responsible behavior from media outlets.
Comparing social media to “instant coffee,” he said it encourages rapid, unverified comments and dissemination, which pose a threat to the educational environment.
Reassuring students and guardians, the minister said the government is making all-out efforts to ensure a fair and smooth examination environment.
He urged everyone not to pay attention to rumors and added that all security measures have been strengthened.
According to him, the overall examination situation so far has been satisfactory for authorities, guardians, and examinees.
When asked whether there is any political motive behind the rumours of question leaks, he requested journalists to investigate the matter, noting that such incidents cause embarrassment for the government.
Regarding the HSC examination schedule, he said the government is planning to designate December as the “exam month” to eliminate session backlogs.
“The goal is to complete all examinations within December so that the new academic year can begin in January,” he added.
He added that the National Curriculum and Textbook Board has been instructed to adjust the curriculum and syllabus accordingly.
