Unified HSC Question Papers, Hope for Recruitment of 50,000 Primary Teachers Within Three Months

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon has said that the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations will be conducted with a unified question paper across the country’s nine general education boards. Subjects with identical curricula and content under the Madrasa and Technical Education Boards will also be examined using the same question papers.

He made the remarks on Monday (June 22) while addressing a programme as the chief guest at the University Day celebration of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU).

The minister said he is hopeful that 50,000 primary school teachers will be recruited within the next three months once ongoing administrative and legal complexities are resolved.

He noted that nearly 32,000 head teacher positions out of around 65,000 remain vacant due to long-standing promotion-related complications. The matter is currently under judicial consideration and is expected to see progress on July 2, which may accelerate the recruitment process.

Expressing concern over delayed salaries for madrasa teachers, the minister said many teachers have yet to receive their salaries for May and June. He attributed the problem to the incomplete implementation of the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) system introduced in 2017.

According to the minister, the issue has particularly affected approximately 17,000 teachers appointed in recent years. He added that gaps between budget allocations and actual financial requirements have contributed to delays in salary disbursement.

The minister also stressed the importance of improving higher education standards, research capacity and international university rankings. He said universities need stronger infrastructure and academic capabilities to compete globally.

Among the special guests at the event were Noakhali-4 Member of Parliament Md. Shahjahan, Noakhali-5 Member of Parliament Md. Fakhrul Islam, University Grants Commission Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, NSTU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Golam Rabbani, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shafiqul Islam and Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Shafiqul Islam.

Earlier, the minister inaugurated the University Day celebrations by cutting a cake and releasing pigeons and balloons. He later presented awards and honours to 51 teachers and students in different categories.

During the programme, a group of students displayed placards demanding the speedy completion of the university’s Academic Building-3 project through implementation by the Bangladesh Army. A brief disruption followed, after which the minister called on students to remain calm and the event resumed normally.

The programme concluded with a prayer and remembrance session in honour of the university’s founder and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

//DBTech/DPO/EK//