‘Reflection of reality’: What Dhaka edu board chief says on low SSC pass rate
There was no pressure from higher authorities to influence evaluations, he says
The aim of this year's SSC exams was not to manipulate GPA scores but to ensure a fair and proper evaluation process, Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board Professor Dr Khandokar Ehsanul Kabir said today (10 July).
Responding to questions from journalists on the low overall pass rate, Prof Ehsanul said, "Our aim was to conduct the exams properly. We gave no special instructions to examiners. Teachers were simply told to award marks fairly."
He also pointed out that the previous three SSC exams (2021–2023) were held under exceptional conditions — reduced syllabuses, subject mapping, and ICT exclusions — due to the pandemic.
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"If we look beyond those years, at 2018–2020, the current pass rate is consistent, hovering below 80%," he added.
He emphasised that there was no pressure from higher authorities to influence evaluations.
"We urged examiners to take their time and assess scripts fairly," said Ehsanul, also president of the Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee.
On Barishal Board recording the lowest pass rate this year (56.38%), Ehsanul Kabir cited geographical challenges, "Barishal's scattered riverine terrain, remote areas, and lack of teacher interest in staying there contribute to this outcome.
"We hope the education authorities will give special attention to this issue."
A total of 68.45% students have passed this year's Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations. This marks a massive drop from the previous year's pass rate of 83.04%.
Also, 139,032 students achieved GPA-5 this year, whereas the number was 182,129 last year.
