SSC, Equivalent Exams: Stellar results on curtailed syllabus

Taking tests on three optional subjects and for fewer marks, this year's SSC candidates have achieved outstanding results, pushing up the pass rate and number of GPA-5 achievers in nine general education boards.

Female examinees have outperformed their male counterparts in terms of both pass rate and achieving the highest Grade Point Average.

According to the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams' results published yesterday, there have been improvements in other areas as well.

Unveiling the results at a press conference, Education Minister Dipu Moni said various government initiatives have brought about positive changes in this year's results.

Dipu Moni and Professor Gazi Hasan Kamal, chairman of Mymensingh Education Board, said shortened syllabuses and fewer number of subjects were major reasons behind the successful outcome of the exams.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE

This year, 17,92,312 students took the SSC exams between November 14 and 30, after a nine-month-long delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Of them, 94.08 percent passed, which is significantly higher than last year's 83.75 percent, while 1,63,840 students got GPA-5 -- much higher than last year's 1,23,497.

Taking into account the Dakhil exams under the madrasa board and SSC vocational tests under the technical board, the combined pass rate was 93.58 -- a big jump from last year's 82.87.

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics, the pass rate in SSC exams this year was the highest since 1991. In 2014, it crossed 90 percent for the first time after that.

Due to the pandemic, examinees sat for tests in only three optional subjects, apart from compulsory subjects like Bangla, English and Mathematics, with shortened syllabuses. The total marks for the exams were also lessened.

The results of the three optional subjects and the GPAs of the students' previous public examinations, including Junior School Certificate, were taken into consideration while preparing the final results.

Professor Gazi Hasan Kamal said that as subjects were fewer, syllabuses shortened, and schools also closed for a long period, examinees had enough time to prepare themselves.

During the exams, they also had more choices in terms of questions to answer, which was another reason for the good results.

Kamal added that usually English and mathematics are the two vital subjects to determine the pass rate and the number of GPA-5 achievers. "But this year, exams were not held on these subjects and that's why we are seeing positive results."

The Mymensigh and Sylhet boards took first and second place among all boards in terms of pass rate, while Dhaka and Rajshahi boards were toppers in terms of GPA-5 achievers.

GIRLS LEAD AGAIN

Once again, the girls outshone the boys in both passing and getting GPA-5.

They look the lead in terms of pass rate for the fifth year in a row with 94.88 -- 1.63 percentage points higher than that of boys.

As GPA-5 achievers, the number of girls was 92,915, surpassing the number of boys -- 70,925 -- for the fourth consecutive year.

Around 5,494 educational institutions saw a 100 percent pass rate this year, against 3,032 in 2020. Around 18 institutions had zero percent pass rate, while last year the number was 104.

Dipu Moni said that government will look into the matter of zero percent pass rates. "We don't want any institution to have no student passing."

This year, 93.22 percent of some 2.92 lakh Dakhil examinees under the madrasa board passed, while last year it was 83.75 percent.

Meanwhile, 88.49 percent of some 1.56 lakh candidates of SSC (vocational) and Dakhil (vocational) exams passed. Last year, the rate was 72.7 percent.

A total of 14,313 madrasa students and 5,178 technical students got GPA-5 this year.

In nine foreign exam centres, 416 Bangladeshi students sat for the exams, of whom 398 passed.