A total of 69.60% students have successfully passed this year's Higher Secondary Certificate and its equivalent examinations. This year, a total of 1,012,581 examinees from 2,288 educational institutions registered for the exams. A total of 42,898 students secured GPA-5 this year. It is about 28 thousand less than the number of GPA-5 obtaining students in the last year. The success rate has decreased more than 8% compared to last year. In the eight general education boards, a total of 65.84 per cent of the students of HSC or equivalent exam secured pass marks. This figure is the lowest since 2008.
We have public universities, Bangladesh Open University, National University, college of leather technology, public and non-government medical colleges, private and public dental colleges, institutes of health technology, government and non-government polytechnic institutes and nursing schools and other institutions where students will be enrolled. Will there be a perfect match?
According to the report, there are 0.70 million seats available this year. Public university seat capacity is 42,948, whereas public and private medical colleges have 9,112 seats in total. UGC reports reveal, National University and Open University have 521,185 seats altogether; 2,154 colleges and pass course seat capacity is 444,200; whereas honours level seats are 200,000 plus. Open University seat capacity is 34,000. It is apprehended that pass course colleges might not get expected numbers of students this year. Some 83 private universities have 100,000 plus seats whereas madrasas and 2 international universities have 50,000 plus and 545 seats respectively. In 34 public universities, public and private medical colleges and institutes hold only 50 thousand seats. Fortunately, this seat number is higher than GAP-5 holders this year. Altogether, the number of seats is not enough to accommodate every passed out student. Many of 738,872 students, who passed the HSC examinations this year, may have no place in the public and private institutions. Consequently, a large number of drop-outs are impending.
It is obvious that a good number of better students could not perform at the expected level in the HSC for different reasons, including, poverty, depression, digression, family problem, sickness, etc. Hope for the best for them. Many of the successful students will pursue higher education abroad in quest of better future, while some will not be able to continue their higher studies.
I think, the deteriorating rate this year will not create any negative impact anyway upon the government or any other related authorities; may be eligible students have passed via tight screening!
There will be a tough contest for admission seekers in different institutions. It is a difficult pressure for the teenagers to handle it carefully. It is also a psychological, as well as physical pressure. Sometimes admission tests are so closely timed (even exams of some different universities) that seekers would face tension, fatigue and stress. Expected results in admission tests would create more stress on teenagers' minds. Failure in getting admitted into expected institution may cause long-term depression and drop-out permanently.
Mushrooming growth of the admission supportive coaching centres is quite significant. Authorities should monitor the quality and intention of these, so that no one can show bad intention and do only 'business' in a short time, based on teenagers' future dreams.
Self-assessment and self-motivation can be best friends for the unsuccessful. They have a long way to go in life and there is not everything lost. They should find out more opportunities. Improvement in exams, technical skill development courses, study abroad, and entrepreneurship can be some more options.
Statistics reveals, in Dhaka University admission test in 2010, 2011 and 2012 in A, B, C units 52 per cent, 53 and 54 per cent students failed in the test respectively who all obtained GPA-5 at the HSC level. The admission test results in the previous three academic years -- 2011-12 to 2013-14 -- give a dismal picture with failure rates of 81 per cent, 83 per cent and 81 per cent respectively. Dhaka University 'Gha' unit for academic session 2014-2015 was published with a pass rate of 16.55%. On the other hand, many students qualified in the admission test and they did not obtain GPA-5 either in SSC and HSC! Only 17.18% students passed in Ka, Kha and Ga unit tests last year in DU. So all the GPA-5 holders cannot be declared as the best; and it is not wise to admit students based on GPA they obtained, right at this moment.
The coordination gap among the boards may be the reason behind this situation. The pattern of making question papers and conducting examination differ much from one board to another. But the admission tests scenario is quite reverse. To get admission at the tertiary level educational institutions, students are to sit for equal sort of test and their grade is treated nationally, and it greatly affects the students.
Support from educational authority, social awareness, family support and counselling may be useful to assist coping up our students with any hurdle related to career. Authorities concerned should think quickly of a permanent solution to the problem of accommodating each and every eligible student at the tertiary level. More seats are to be created in institutions. Some self-dependent entrepreneurial opportunities may be created from government and private sectors that create more options. Focusing on technical education is an effective option too. Every year, this problem is mounting. Stopping drop-outs is a great challenge for us. We must turn each of our students into a resource, not a social burden. We have to keep their dream intact.
Email: ansary@daffodilvarsity.edu.bd
Are we able to secure future of every HSC passed student?
Ahemed Shamim Ansary | Published: September 05, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
Are we able to secure future of these examinees?
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