While the pass rates of eight general education boards in SSC exams declined by 5.95 percent, madrasa and technical education boards show different results – pass rates in Dakhil and vocational examinations have increased compared to the last year.

The pass rate of Dakhil exam under Madrasa Education Board is 90.20 percent against the last year's 89.25 percent, while pass rate of vocational exam under Technical Education Board rose to 83.01 percent from last year's 81.97 percent.

Even the number of GPA-5 achievers also increased in Technical Education Board. However, number of GPA-5 achievers has decreased in Madrasa Education Board than the previous year.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid blamed the countrywide political unrest – hartals and blockades – during the examinations for the decline in pass rate.

When asked how the examinees of the two boards did well, the education minister replied indirectly: "The result reflects that they have done well. We had nothing to do with the result."

A total of 254,622 examinees took part in Dakhil exams from 9,125 institutions this year. Of them, 229,666 students have passed the exams, putting the passing rate at 90.20 percent, which was 89.25 percent last year.

However, a total of 11,338 examinees, including 7,298 boys and 4,040 girls, achieved GPA-5 this year, while the figure was 14,013 last year.

On the other hand, from 2,090 institutions under Technical Education Board, total 110,289 examinees sat for the SSC (vocational) exams. Of them, 91,457 students have passed the exams, displaying a steady rise in passing rates.

This year's passing rate is 83.01 percent while it was 81.97 percent last year, 81.13 percent in 2013 and 80.69 percent in 2012.

The government has been putting emphasis on technical education for last few years and the steady progress in the results manifests the government's effort, said education ministry officials.