Chairmen of all educational boards will sit in a meeting on Thursday to discuss how to hold the postponed Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and its equivalent examinations.

The exams slated for April 1 were postponed on March 22 in fear of coronavirus spread for an indefinite period.

Professor Pradip Chakroborty, chairman of the Chattogram education board, yesterday told The Daily Star that they would discuss different aspects of HSC exams, including sitting arrangement of the students.

He said the beginning of HSC exams depended on the recommendations of the national advisory committee on coronavirus situation and the decisions of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the education ministry.

Pradip said they would also discuss how to hold JSC and equivalents exams at schools.

About 13 lakhs students are expected to sit for HSC and its equivalent exams, which are supposed to be held at over 9,000 educational institutions under nine general, one madrasa, and one technical education boards.

The government closed down all educational institutions from March 17 and the shutdown was eventually extended until October 3.

Education Minister Dipu Moni on several occasions said that the government is considering cutting down exam days and subjects of the HSC and equivalent examinations.

She said the HSC exams would be taken 15 days after the coronavirus situation returns to normalcy.

Academic activities of about four crore students are being hampered due to the crisis posed by the Covid-19 outbreak.