Lowest pass rate in 15 years under Chattogram Education Board
Representational image. Collected.
This year's SSC examination results under the Chattogram Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board have witnessed a major setback. The pass rate for 2026 stands at 59.48%. An analysis of the board's results from 2011 to 2025 shows that this is the lowest pass rate during this 15-year period.
Due to the decline in the pass rate, 52,756 students have failed in the board this year. At the same time, the number of GPA-5 achievers has decreased by 2,445 compared to last year. This year, 9,398 students achieved GPA-5, whereas last year the number was 11,843.
An analysis of the Chattogram Education Board's results over the past 15 years shows that from 2011 to 2025, the pass rate never dropped below 75% in any year. In 2011, the pass rate was 78.36%. In 2012, it was 79%; in 2013, 88.07%; in 2014, 91.42%; and in 2015, 82.83% of students passed.
In 2016, the pass rate was 90.46%. In 2017, it was 84.13%; in 2018, 75.54%; in 2019, 78.17%; and in 2020, 84.79% of students passed.
In 2021, the board recorded its highest-ever pass rate of 91.13%. Subsequently, in 2022, the pass rate was 87.53%; in 2023, 78.29%; in 2024, 82.80%; and in 2025, it was 72.07%.
Professor Dr. Parvez Sajjad Chowdhury, Controller of Examinations of the Chattogram Education Board, cited students' lack of interest in studies as a reason for the poor results. He said that students have become more involved in various movements rather than focusing on studies, and this has impacted the results.
The number of GPA-5 achievers has also significantly decreased this year. In 2025, 11,843 students got GPA-5; in 2024, 10,823; in 2023, 11,450; in 2022, 18,664; and in 2021, 12,795 students achieved GPA-5. In 2026, that number has dropped to 9,398.
Some education analysts believe that the overall results have been negatively affected by the decline in pass rates in subjects like English and Mathematics, as well as the unsatisfactory performance of schools in hilly and rural areas. They also think that relatively stricter evaluation this year may be another contributing factor to the poor results.
According to board data, a total of 130,219 examinees appeared for the exams this year. Of them, 28,771 students failed in just one subject, accounting for 22.09% of total examinees. The large number of students failing in a single subject is also being seen as one of the key reasons for the overall decline in the pass rate this year.
