Bangladesh Education Standards Show Return to Pre-Pandemic Reality as Pass Rates Normalize
Bangladesh's education system shows signs of normalizing as SSC examination results return to pre-pandemic levels, with pass rates dropping to 68.45%. Education officials maintain this reflects a return to proper evaluation standards rather than declining performance, while highlighting persistent regional disparities in educational access.
Students receiving their Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination results in Bangladesh
Education Board Chief Defends Lower SSC Results as Return to Normal Standards
Bangladesh's education system is witnessing a significant shift as Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination results return to pre-pandemic levels, highlighting broader challenges in educational equity and quality assessment.
Return to Standard Evaluation
Professor Dr Khandokar Ehsanul Kabir, Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, has defended this year's markedly lower pass rates as a reflection of normal educational standards rather than a systemic failure.
'Our aim was to conduct the exams properly. We gave no special instructions to examiners. Teachers were simply told to award marks fairly,' stated Professor Ehsanul during a press briefing.
Statistical Context and Pandemic Impact
The overall pass rate has decreased to 68.45% from last year's 83.04%, with GPA-5 achievers dropping from 182,129 to 139,032. However, these figures align more closely with pre-pandemic patterns from 2018-2020, when pass rates typically remained below 80%.
The previous three years (2021-2023) operated under exceptional circumstances, including:
- Reduced syllabuses
- Subject mapping adjustments
- ICT exclusions
Regional Disparities and Educational Equity
The results have highlighted significant regional disparities, particularly in the Barishal region, which recorded the lowest pass rate at 56.38%. This underperformance has been attributed to several structural challenges:
- Scattered riverine terrain affecting accessibility
- Remote area educational infrastructure
- Teacher retention difficulties
These findings underscore the need for targeted educational support in geographically challenged regions to ensure equitable access to quality education.
Jack Thompson
Reporter based in Sydney, Jack covers climate issues, migration policies, and Australia's Indo-Pacific strategy.