Pass rate, GPA score in HSC results fall; frequent hartals seen as reason
After a steady uptrend over the last four years, the HSC results this year show a significant fall in both the pass rates and the number of GPA-5 scorers, for what experts blame frequent changes in exam schedules due to shutdowns.
The results, published yesterday, also show a decline in other indicators: the number of failed students increased remarkably while the number of colleges with cent percent pass rate decreased and the institutions with zero pass rate rose slightly.
The pass percentage of Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams under the eight education boards came down to 71.13, marking a fall of 5.37 points from that of last year.
This time, 46,736 examinees got GPA (Grade Point Average)-5, compared to last year’s 51,469.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and chairmen of almost all education boards blamed frequent shutdowns and other destructive political programmes during the exam days for the drop in the success rate.
The examinees underwent intense psychological pressure amid a sense of uncertainty due to the shutdowns during such an important examination in their life.
Frequent changes in exam routines because of shutdown baffled the examinees and hindered their preparations, they noted.
Experts are also of the same opinion.
Shalahuddin Qusar Biplob, associate professor of psychiatry at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said whenever any unexpected incident crosses somebody’s tolerance level, it creates a stress.
“Similarly, if a student finds unexpected things during examination that would create a stress and will eventually result in fear and lack of concentration and it is manifested in the examination,” he told The Daily Star yesterday.
The combined pass rate under 10 education boards, including madrasa and technical boards, came down to 74.30 percent, decreasing by 4.37 points.
As many as 148 out of 164 students, who sat for the exam in five centres abroad under Dhaka board, came out successful.
A total of 58,197 students under 10 boards secured GPA-5 this year, falling by 2,965 from last year’s number. Only 20 students got GPA-5 when the grading system was introduced in 2003.
Publishing the results officially, the education minister at a press briefing said, “Some inconsiderate, short-sighted and irresponsible political leaders, who only thought of their narrow purpose, were responsible for the result.”
He said it was the first time the examinees took the exams tension-free.
“Nine countrywide hartals were enforced during the exams. Besides, there were half-day hartals in some parts of the country during almost every exam,” Nahid added.
“We had to reschedule examinations of 32 papers frequently due to the hartals. In Chittagong Board, the schedule of English second paper exam was changed four times.”
He said the students were under severe pressure and felt complete uncertainty and lack of security during the exam days. Therefore, many did not do well in the exams.
“An examinee made preparation for a certain subject but came to know that the exam of that paper had been postponed. They were uncertain as to when the next exam would be held,” added the minister.
Prof Abul Kashem Miah, chairman of Comilla Board, told The Daily Star that there was a chaotic situation during the exams and this was why the students could not concentrate properly.
Dhaka Board Chairman Prof Taslima Begum told The Daily Star that they will analyse the results to know if there is any other reason for such a drop.
She, however, said the students could not do well in English and chemistry. The pass rate in English in eight education boards is over 75 percent against last year’s 80pc while in Chemistry it was around 77 percent against last year’s 85pc.
SM Wahiduzzaman, exam controller of Dhaka Board, said the “creative question method” in four subjects, particularly chemistry, also contributed to this decline as students were not ready yet. The method was introduced last year and applied only in Bangla.
The results were published simultaneously at all examination centres and colleges yesterday afternoon, 60 days after the exams had concluded.
Earlier, the education minister handed over the copy of the results to Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina at Gono Bhaban, where the premier attended a teleconference and sent results to four Jessore colleges via internet.
As many as 10,02,496 students from 7,657 institutions took the HSC and equivalent exams that began on April 1. Of them, 7,44,891 have come out successful.
Boys did better than the girls in terms of pass rate. The success rates of boys and girls are 74.32 and 70.29 percent.
Rajuk Uttara Model College topped the list of 20 most successful institutions in Dhaka board while Abdul Kadir Mollah City College in Narsingdi ranked second. Three more colleges outside the capital also secured position in the chart prepared on five academic categories.
Students from the business studies group did best in terms of pass rate followed by science and humanities groups.
Like other years, Alim examinees under Madrasa Education Board did exceptionally well compared to other nine boards with a pass rate of 91.46 percent.
Despite the fall in pass rate, there will be a concern over admission in public universities due to limited seats there.
Source: The Daily Star
