Labonnya Liza; Dbarta24 — The Bangladesh government has initiated strict administrative measures against 312 educational institutions across the country after not a single student from these schools passed this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations.
Initially, the Ministry of Education and the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee issued show-cause notices to the heads of these institutions, demanding an explanation for the complete failure.
Officials stated that if the explanations prove unsatisfactory, the government will move to cancel their Monthly Pay Order (MPO) benefits and official academic recognition.
According to performance analytics:
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226 institutions fall under the Madrasah Education Board.
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57 secondary schools are under general education boards (up from 48 last year).
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29 are technical and vocational institutions.
Regional Breakdown of General Schools
The Dinajpur Education Board recorded the highest number of zero-pass general schools (18), followed by Jessore (11), Chattogram (8), Rajshahi (5), Barishal (5), and Mymensingh (4).
“There are clear instructions to take action against zero-pass institutions,” said Professor Syed Akteruzzaman, Coordinator of the Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee and Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board. “Necessary steps will be taken after reviewing the responses from the institution heads.”Flagrant Mismanagement and Ghost Enrollments
A closer look at the examination data reveals severe structural anomalies. Most failing institutions sent fewer than 15 candidates for the national exams, with over a hundred institutions presenting merely five to seven students.
In several cases, only a single candidate was registered.
Furthermore, several institutions maintain full teaching staffs despite nominal student turnout, raising grave concerns regarding the misuse of public funds:
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Shyampur Ekhlachhia Mahila Dakhil Madrasah (Comilla): 15 teachers, 10 examinees, 0 passed.
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Taltala High School (Kurigram): 12 teachers, 12 examinees, 0 passed.
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Kadamtali Karipara High School (Jamalpur): 11 teachers, 3 examinees, 0 passed.
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Helanchi Krishnabati Girls’ High School (Jessore): 9 teachers, 1 examinee, 0 passed.
Probation and Stricter Guidelines Ahead
The Ministry of Education is considering a conditional probation model before permanently revoking MPO privileges.
Officials revealed that institutions may be given a three-year window to achieve at least a 50% pass rate while maintaining a minimum enrollment threshold of 60 students.
Educationists Call for Root-Cause Solutions
Prominent educationists urge authorities to look beyond administrative punishment and address systemic disparities.
“A comprehensive study should be conducted on these 312 institutions to identify the root causes,” said Rasheda K. Choudhury, Executive Director of the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) and former caretaker government advisor. “Effective steps must be taken simultaneously to resolve teacher shortages and bridge the educational divide between urban and rural areas.”
Echoing this sentiment, noted educationist Principal Kazi Faruq Ahmed highlighted accountability: “Where consistent failure occurs despite having adequate teaching staff, accountability must be ensured based on educational quality. Otherwise, the effectiveness of public expenditure will remain questionable.”