Arafat Rahaman

As the government aims to raise the country’s literacy rate to between 86 and 90 percent by 2030, nearly half of children aged seven to 14 still fail to read and understand a simple story.

Sifat Abdullah's trouble began with his claim that two electricity bills for his household totalled Tk 9,000

Differences in school attendance, child labour, stipend incentives and study routines are widening the performance gap between male and female students in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations, according to educationists, teachers and candidates.

The vice chancellors of at least three public universities have recently used their institutions’ official platforms to congratulate BNP leaders on appointments to party posts amid ongoing controversies over politically influenced appointments to top university positions.

Since the late 1980s, Bangladesh’s SSC pass rate has seen major fluctuations, reflecting not only student performance but also suggesting the influence of political realities, exam reforms, marking practices, and education policies.

Govt’s five-year plan sets targets for two key sectors

This year’s SSC results painted a grim picture, with the pass rate across the nine general education boards hitting a 19-year low and GPA-5 achievers falling to their lowest level since 2020.

The Madrasah Education Board recorded its lowest pass rate in 23 years at 55.49 percent, while the Technical Education Board posted a 19-year low of 58.20 percent in this year’s SSC and equivalent examinations, according to education ministry data.