HSC, equivalent exams kick off with 36% absenteeism among regular candidates

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations began across the country today (2 July), with around 36% of regular students not appearing for the tests this year, an unusually high absenteeism rate, according to education sources.

A total of 1,270,583 regular and irregular candidates will sit for this year's HSC and equivalent examinations at 2,697 centres nationwide.

Candidates entered centres from 8:30am, while police officers on duty will wear body-worn cameras.

The written examinations will conclude within 21 days, and regular classes will continue at examination centres on days without tests.

According to the Ministry of Education and the education boards, around 15 lakh students who passed the SSC and equivalent examinations in the 2024–25 academic year registered for Class XI.

Of them, around 9.5 lakh completed forms for this year's examinations, meaning around 5.5 lakh regular students are not sitting for the tests.

Last year, slightly more than 29% of regular students did not appear for the examinations. 

The rate has increased by around seven percentage points within a year.

Under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board, more than 54% of regular students did not complete examination forms this year.

Under the nine general education boards, 33.04% of regular students are not appearing for this year's examinations, up from around 27% last year.

Under the Madrasa Education Board, 44.07% of registered Alim students did not complete examination forms, compared with around 39% last year.

Under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board, 54.58% of regular vocational students are not appearing for this year's examinations, up from around 40% last year.

The education authorities could not specify the reasons behind the sharp rise. 

However, an analysis by the Dhaka Education Board of last year's absent SSC candidates found that nearly 41% had already been married, making child marriage the leading cause.

Lack of preparation and poverty were also identified as significant factors.

This year's SSC and equivalent examinations also saw more than 23% of regular students absent despite registering two years earlier. 

The number of candidates remaining absent after completing examination forms has also increased in recent years.

Education stakeholders said child marriage, poverty and students entering the workforce after passing the SSC contribute to the dropout trend.

They expressed concern that this year's absenteeism among regular HSC candidates has risen abnormally.

Responding to a question at a press conference yesterday (1 July), Education Adviser ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said the authorities are identifying the weaknesses behind the trend and will take necessary measures based on the findings.

Dhaka Education Board Secretary SM Kamal Uddin Haider said many students skip the examinations in the scheduled year because they are insufficiently prepared and instead appear the following year.

The education adviser said the nine general education boards will use a common question paper this year.

He said, "From next year, common subjects under the Madrasa and Technical Education Boards will also be conducted using a common question paper."

He added that legal action would be taken against anyone spreading misleading information about the examinations on social media.