Over 26 lakh eighth graders will sit for Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) examinations scheduled to be started on November 2 this year.

Education minister Dr Dipu Moni said closing down all coaching centres till the end of the exams, and banning mobile phone, smartwatch, digital pen and any digital device within 200 metres of the exam centres are some of the steps taken to ensure that the examinations are held in a free and fair manner.

“I seek cooperation from all and urge the students and parents not to go after questions rumoured to have been leaked,” said Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni at a pre-examination press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday morning.

She requested the guardians, Teachers not to pay heed to any rumours regarding question paper leaks.

She said the dropout rates is gradually reducing  from 2008 to 2019.

A total of 26,61,682 — 14,39,987 girls and 12,21,695 boys — have registered from 29,262 schools and madrasas for this year’s exams.

Last year, 26.70 lakh students took part in the tests.

The examination, which replaced the scholarship tests, was introduced in 2010 when around 14.92 lakh students participated in the test across the country.

This year, over 22.60 lakh students will sit for the JSC exams under nine general education boards. Over 4 lakh students will take the JDC exams under madrasa education board.

The exams will be held on seven subjects on a total of 650 marks.

Some 454 overseas students will sit for the tests at nine overseas centres.

Dipu Moni said they already asked all coaching centres to remain closed from October 25 until the tests end.

” If any coaching centre remains open, action will be taken against them.” She said.

She also said The social media is now under strict surveillance of law enforcerment agency ahead of the exam.