The outcome of this year’s SSC and equivalent examinations, while unexpected for many, signals a positive shift towards reinstating trust in the assessment of public exams. It represents a clear break from the detrimental practice of compromising the quality of pre-tertiary exams through automatic passes or concessions related to subjects or syllabi, a trend that has been observed even during the early stages of the interim government. We commend the authorities for reinstating a merit-based assessment system without yielding to any external pressures for inflated grades. Education officials have emphasized that this year’s results accurately reflect the performance of students, which is a significant achievement in itself.
Official statistics reveal that the overall pass rate across the nine general education boards has decreased to 68.04 percent, the lowest in 16 years. Likewise, the combined pass rate across all boards, including general, madrasa, and technical boards, has dropped to 68.45 percent. There has been a notable decline in the number of students achieving GPA-5, while over six lakh students have failed the exams. Once again, girls have outperformed boys in both pass rates and GPA scores, continuing a trend observed for almost a decade. Among the general education boards, Rajshahi has recorded the highest pass rate at 77.63 percent, whereas Barishal has the lowest pass rate at 56.38 percent. The pass rate in the humanities group stands at 53.87 percent, significantly lower than that of the science (85.68 percent) and business studies (66.32 percent) groups.
These figures are concerning, stirring worry among parents and educators. The critical question arises: should we view this situation as a catastrophe or a reflection of long-concealed realities? The prevailing consensus leans towards the latter. This year, examiners were reportedly instructed to evaluate answer scripts based solely on merit, refraining from awarding any extra or grace marks. However, the underlying issues run deeper.
The education sector has witnessed frequent disruptions and closures over the past six years due to the impact of the pandemic and ongoing political instability. SSC students, in particular, have experienced interruptions in their regular classroom learning from grades 6 to 10. The cumulative effects of these disruptions on the academic, social, and psychological well-being of students, which were anticipated, are now becoming more evident. Coupled with rigorous evaluation and seemingly challenging question papers, especially in mathematics, it is understandable why the SSC results have unfolded in this manner.
These circumstances highlight significant gaps in learning and systemic preparedness that must be addressed moving forward. It is crucial to prevent a surge in dropout rates, particularly among girls and in rural and economically disadvantaged areas, through timely interventions. Moreover, it is imperative to shift the focus away from high pass rates or top GPA scores as indicators of success. The fixation on inflated results has fostered a harmful culture of cutthroat competition and has tragically led to instances of student suicides. Instead, the emphasis should be on enhancing learning outcomes and eradicating the disruptions in the academic environment for the sustainable progress of our students and the nation.
The education sector is in dire need of reforms and systemic enhancements. We cannot afford to overlook this necessity, especially after witnessing the recent disappointing examination results.