Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan on Saturday warned that any disruption of CCTV cameras at examination centres during the upcoming SSC and equivalent exams would be treated as a sign of possible malpractice.

Speaking at a coordination meeting with centre secretaries of the Rajshahi Education Board, as well as technical and madrasa education boards, the minister said authorities would not accept excuses such as power outages for camera failures during exams.

“If CCTV cameras are found inactive, we will assume something is wrong,” he said, adding that all examination records must be properly preserved to ensure accountability.

The meeting, held in Rajshahi ahead of the 2026 SSC examinations, was also attended by officials from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.

The minister noted that although there had been a prior decision to suspend MPO (government salary benefits) for institutions with zero pass rates, it would not be enforced this time on humanitarian grounds.

However, he issued a strong warning to ensure quality education standards.

He also criticised the existing “quota system” in university admissions, stressing that students must qualify based on merit. He suggested that children of district-level officials should be required to attend public schools to increase accountability and improve standards.

Highlighting efforts to prevent question paper leaks, the minister said stricter laws are being planned to ensure accountability for all stakeholders. He added that authorities are closely monitoring digital means through which leaks may occur.

Referring to broader reforms, he said human resources could become a liability if not properly developed, noting that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is placing special emphasis on transforming the education system.

The minister also instructed officials to identify any organised cheating networks, stressing that while authorities do not want to create panic among students or disrupt results, no unethical facilities or passing without proper examination will be tolerated.

Senior education officials and centre secretaries from across the Rajshahi region attended the meeting, where local administration was urged to strengthen monitoring to ensure transparency and security during the exams.