47 percent of students drop out midway

A total of 724,210 students who passed the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations in 2024 did not appear for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations this year, accounting for 43.31 percent of all successful SSC candidates. Over the past 10 years, from 2017 to 2026, more than 3.64 million students dropped out before taking the final HSC examination despite being registered. Out of 14.51 million registered students during the period, more than 25 percent, on average, failed to complete the transition from SSC to HSC. This year recorded the highest dropout rate at 36 percent. From the completion of primary education through Grade 12, the overall dropout rate stands at 52.22 percent.

The trend is not limited to HSC. A similar pattern is seen between Grade 9 and the SSC examination. Every year, hundreds of thousands of students remain absent from public examinations despite spending 10 to 12 years in school and completing registration. To identify the reasons behind this phenomenon, the Inter Education Board is launching a nationwide investigative survey and research initiative. Through the Bangladesh Examination Development Unit (BEDU), the board will examine dropout rates, identify the causes and recommend measures to prevent students from leaving the education system.

Officials involved in the survey said that in the past, financial hardship was broadly identified as the primary reason for students dropping out. However, a pilot survey conducted by the Dhaka Education Board among students who were supposed to sit for the SSC examination in 2025 found that 42 percent of absent students had discontinued their education because of child marriage, with 97 percent of them being girls. Other reasons included joining the workforce because of financial hardship and various other factors. Based on the findings of that survey, the Inter Education Board has decided to conduct a nationwide study this year.

Professor S M Kamal Uddin Haydar, Secretary of the Dhaka Education Board, told Agamir Somoy, “It is deeply concerning that such a large number of students disappear from the examination process after studying for 10 to 12 years. No nationwide investigation into this issue has ever been conducted before. We will identify the actual reasons behind students dropping out and submit recommendations to the government on what measures can reduce this rate.”

3.64 Million Students Dropped Out Over 10 Years

From 2017 to 2026, a total of 3,640,985 students who had registered for the HSC examination did not appear for the final examination. According to board data, these were regular students who ultimately dropped out before the examination. During the period, 14,511,043 students registered for the HSC examination, with the average dropout rate standing at 25.09 percent. The highest dropout rate of 36 percent was recorded this year. The second highest was 29.86 percent in 2023. In the remaining years, the dropout rate remained in the 20 percent range.

1.385 Million Students Dropped Out Between Primary School and Grade 12

A student’s formal academic record begins at Grade 5. Students who sat for the HSC examination this year had passed the Primary Education Completion examination in 2018. That year, 2,652,609 students passed the examination. However, only 1,267,486 students are appearing for the HSC and equivalent examinations in 2026. This means that 1,385,123 students dropped out over the eight year educational journey, representing 52.22 percent of those who passed the primary examination in 2018. Education experts consider this highly alarming.

Professor Mujibur Rahman of the Institute of Education and Research at the University of Dhaka believes that learning deficiencies and various systemic irregularities lie at the root of the dropout problem, but the government is unwilling to acknowledge them publicly. He told Agamir Somoy, “The government is trying to cover up its failure by citing child marriage or migration abroad as the main reasons. In reality, schools lack a proper learning environment and there is no joy in education. While developed countries have made education compulsory through Grade 12, the secondary level remains the most neglected in our country. From teacher shortages to multiple structural deficiencies, this level suffers from widespread neglect.” He further said, “A Unique ID project was launched a decade ago to accurately determine why students drop out at different stages, but it has never been fully implemented. As a result, the real causes cannot be tracked, and the education administration continues to rely on assumptions rather than evidence.”

97 Percent of Dropouts Because of Child Marriage Are Girls

A survey conducted by the Dhaka Education Board in 2025 found that marriage was the leading reason students did not appear for the SSC examination. The survey, carried out in 13 districts, found that 42 percent of absent students missed the examination because they had gotten married. Of them, 97 percent were girls. Among these girls, 87 percent were from rural areas and the remaining 13 percent were from urban areas. The findings brought renewed attention to the issue. Although financial hardship had previously been considered the main cause of dropping out, marriage emerged as a major factor.

Among academic streams, the humanities recorded the highest dropout rate at 68 percent, followed by business studies at 24 percent and science at 10 percent. Students in the humanities were found to be at the greatest risk of child marriage.

The survey also asked 1,350 absent examinees about their future educational plans. Nearly 51 percent said they would not continue their studies. Among those who said they would not return to education, 74 percent were girls.

724,210 Students Dropped Out in Two Years

According to the Inter Education Board, 1,672,153 students passed the SSC examination in 2024. Of them, 1,491,872 registered as regular students in Grade 11. This means that 180,281 students did not enroll in Grade 11 despite passing the SSC examination. Among those who registered, only 947,943 completed the HSC examination registration process. As a result, 724,210 students dropped out of the mainstream education system between SSC and HSC over the two year period, representing 43.31 percent of all students who had passed the SSC examination.

However, Professor Syed Akhtaruzzaman, Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board and President of the Inter Education Board Coordination Committee, said the figure should not be interpreted entirely as dropout cases. He told Agamir Somoy, “Not all registered students who do not sit for the examination have dropped out. Many take a one year gap because of personal or academic reasons and appear for the examination the following year.”

Professor Manzoor Ahmed, Emeritus Professor at BRAC University and an educationist, described the rapid loss of students from the education system as “a warning sign for the country.” He advised that everyone must work together to protect the education system from this growing social challenge.