The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations under 11 education boards will begin today.

The exams will start at 10:00am and continue for three hours. Unlike the last couple of years, SSC examinations will cover all subjects though the question papers will be set on a revised syllabus.

As many as 20,72,163 candidates will sit for this year’s SSC and equivalent exams, said the education ministry.

The ministry has called upon the examinees to reach exam centres half an hour before the scheduled time.

The decision to shorten the syllabuses was made considering the fact that the candidates of these public exams have fewer in-person classes compared to the pre-Covid period.

Some 16,49,275 students from 17,786 schools will sit for the examinations under nine general education boards in 2,244 centres, while 2,95,121 candidates from 9,085 madrasas under Madrasha Board in 716 test centres and 1,27,767 students from 2,927 technical educational institutions under the Technical Education Board attend the exam in 850 test centres.

In order to ensure a fair and peaceful environment none except the candidates will be allowed within 200 yards of the examination halls during the examinations.

Earlier, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni announced that all coaching centres across the country will remain closed from April 26 to May 23 for holding the examinations smoothly.