CHATTOGRAM, Aug 10, 2026 (BSS) - The pass rate and the number of students securing GPA-5 have declined in this year’s SSC examinations under the Chattogram Education Board. 

Board officials and educationists believe that poor performance in Mathematics and English has caused a ‘setback’ in the overall results.

An analysis of the results released by the Chattogram Education Board today showed that Mathematics recorded the lowest subject-wise pass rate at 81.53 percent. English ranked second lowest, with a pass rate of 83.24 percent. However, the highest pass rate, 98.91 percent, was recorded in Bangladesh o Bishwoporichoy.

The pass rate under the Chattogram Education Board stood at 59.48 percent this year, compared to 72.70 percent last year. A total of 9,398 students secured GPA-5 this year, against 11,843 last year. This year, 77,453 students passed, compared to 101,181 last year.

An analysis of the results by group showed that the poor performance of students in the Humanities group also affected the overall results. The pass rate in the Science group was 84.41 percent this year, compared to 92.57 percent last year. In the Business Studies group, the pass rate was 60.12 percent, compared to 73.54 percent last year, while the Humanities group recorded a pass rate of 38.79 percent, down from 55.02 percent last year.

Education researcher and teacher at Chattogram Govt. Teachers’ Training College Prof. Dr Shamsuddin Shishir told BSS today, “In our country, particularly at the school level, students have fundamental weaknesses in Mathematics and English. This is part of the learning gap among students. The current situation has emerged due to learning gaps accumulated over a long period.”

“Earlier, there were various kinds of irregularities and leniency in evaluating answer scripts, but that is no longer the case. Now a student receives marks exactly according to what he or she writes. This is why a setback is being seen in the results, but this is the reality. We have to evaluate students with a realistic mindset,” he said.

“It is not enough to consider only the pass rate, nor should we focus merely on celebrating GPA-5 results. Evaluation should focus on ensuring that students truly become part of ‘learning and an appropriately skilled human resource’,” he added.

Chattogram Education Board Secretary Zahirul Haque Swapan told BSS, “Poor performance in Mathematics and English has had a negative impact on the board’s overall results. We will examine why students are performing poorly in these two subjects, which are important parts of learning during their academic life.”

He said, “We will take initiatives to identify the areas of deficiency by analysing subject-wise results. It is necessary to focus not only on increasing the pass rate but also on improving students’ learning outcomes and subject-specific skills. Alongside subjects in which the pass rate is good, efforts should be made in coordination with teachers and educational institutions to further improve the results in Mathematics and English.”

Principal of Aparnacharan City Corporation School and College Abu Taleb Belal told BSS today, “It is not normal for results to continuously move upward or downward. Whenever the pass rate declines in a particular year, everyone describes it as a ‘disaster’. I do not see it that way. Rather, I believe a decline in the pass rate should also be viewed as an opportunity to assess the actual quality of education.”

“Lessons should be learned from this, with emphasis on students’ regular studies, increasing class attendance and improving the quality of teaching. The government needs to take effective initiatives in this regard,” he said.

Chattogram Education Board Controller of Examinations Prof. Parvez Sazzad Chowdhury said, “The evaluation system plays an important role in examination results. This year, no leniency was shown in evaluating answer scripts. The scripts were evaluated following the prescribed rules and assessment methods. Changes in the results have occurred considering students’ preparation, changes in the syllabus and the standard of the examination.”

Education Board officials said the results would be analysed to review the subjects in which students performed poorly. In particular, subjects with higher failure rates would be identified and necessary measures would be taken in the future to improve the quality of education.

Meanwhile, the pass rate in the Chattogram metropolitan area stood at 74 percent this year, compared to 81.03 percent last year. In Chattogram district, the pass rate was 57.13 percent, compared to 71.29 percent last year. Cox’s Bazar recorded a pass rate of 57.3 percent, against 70.76 percent last year. The pass rate in Rangamati was 41.17 percent, compared to 56.55 percent last year. Khagrachhari recorded a pass rate of 34.99 percent, down from 60.77 percent last year, while Bandarban recorded 47.88 percent, compared to 63.12 percent last year.

Despite the poor performance in Mathematics and English, an analysis showed that the pass rates in most subjects under Science, Religious Studies and Business Studies were above 95 percent.