The 77.77 per cent pass rate in this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams is the lowest in nine years, but Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says it is nothing to worry about.
“We hope it will rise in the future,” she said at an event at the Ganabhaban on Sunday, after she received a summary of the results.
This year’s pass rate fell 2.58 percentage points year-on-year.
The prime minister congratulated the candidates who had successfully passed their exams after receiving the summary from Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and the chairpersons of the ten education boards.
She told those who had failed not to despair, but to pay greater attention to their studies instead.
“As there were more candidates this year it is not too concerning that the pass rate has dropped. After all, a 77.77 per cent pass rate is not particularly low,” Hasina said.
According to the education minister, a total of 2,026,574 students sat for exams under ten education boards this year, up from 1,482,962 last year.
The absolute number of candidates who passed actually increased to 1,576,104 students this year from 1,431,722 students last year, he said.
The prime minister spoke to students, teachers, administrative officials and various members of the public from Bandarban at the event via video conference.
Hasina stressed the importance of a peaceful and secure environment for the purpose of development during the conference.
“We need a peaceful, secure and relaxed atmosphere across all of Bangladesh. The Father of the Nation has left us an independent nation. Now we must build a country according to the ideals of the Liberation War – a golden Bangladesh free of hunger and poverty.”
“Everyone must have friendly relations with one another. It does not matter if we are hill people or Bangalees. What matters is that we are all human and we must treat each other accordingly.”
Everyone has fundamental rights that must be protected and ensured, the prime minister said.
“Our country can only be free of hunger and poverty once all 100 per cent of our people are educated. Education is something no one can take away from you.”
Hasina encouraged students to pursue their education diligently and urged everyone to create an environment in which students can receive a proper education.
“It is our hope that future generations will be well-educated and take the helm of the country. We want them to become proper citizens.”
