Record 1.3 million applications for answer script re-evaluation!
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If students are dissatisfied with the result of any public or academic examination, they can apply for re-verification of their answer scripts. This process is known as script re-scrutiny or "script challenge."
Every year, after the publication of SSC or HSC exam results, education boards receive numerous applications for script challenges. However, this year, following the publication of the SSC and equivalent examination results, the number of applications has set a record. Within the stipulated seven days, a total of 4,251 students submitted applications for re-verification in 1,287,926 subjects, which is about 550,000 more than last year. On average, each student applied for re-scrutiny in three subjects. Many students who achieved a GPA of 5 also applied for script challenge in hopes of obtaining a Golden GPA 5. The highest number of applications among all boards was received by the Dhaka Education Board.
According to the Inter-Education Board, the sudden abnormal rise in applications is attributed to factors such as a decline in the pass rate, stricter evaluation, and the impact of the Education Minister's announcement about changing the traditional practice and evaluating the entire answer script instead of just re-checking totals. However, Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon said that it is impossible to re-scrutinize such a massive number of applications under the existing system. He also said that a new policy would be formulated soon to determine which types of scripts would fall under the re-scrutiny process to manage any (unusual) situation.
The SSC and equivalent exam results were published on August 10, with an overall pass rate of 62.25%. Last year, the pass rate was 68.45%, meaning the pass rate dropped by 6.20% in just one year. At the same time, the number of students achieving a GPA of 5 decreased by more than 22,000.
Speaking to several officials concerned with the education boards about the reasons behind this year's unusually high number of re-scrutiny applications, they cited a change in the nature of re-scrutiny as a key factor. Under the previous system, re-scrutiny for public exams typically only involved checking the arithmetic of marks, summation, or whether any marks for a particular question had been omitted – that is, the entire script was not re-evaluated. This year, however, the government amended the public examination law. On this matter, the Education Minister had announced that those who applied for a script challenge would not receive the conventional re-scrutiny but rather a full re-evaluation of their entire answer script.
Consequently, students who did not achieve their desired results applied in greater numbers to have their awarded marks re-examined. Additionally, the drop in the pass rate and GPA 5 figures, stricter evaluation compared to previous years, and the discontinuation of the practice of awarding sympathy marks were major contributing factors.
Highest Number of Applications in the Dhaka Board: A board-wise analysis shows that the Dhaka Education Board received 335,677 applications – comprising 277,665 for theoretical subjects and 58,012 for practical subjects. The Cumilla Board received 112,611 applications. The Rajshahi Board received 122,228; Jashore Board 91,059; and Chattogram Board 137,601. Additionally, Barishal received 61,086; Sylhet 60,974; Dinajpur 111,260; the Madrasa Education Board 117,059; the Technical Education Board 51,214; and Mymensingh Board 87,157 applications.
Reasons Behind the Record Applications: This year, there was strict monitoring at examination centers. Additionally, discipline in evaluation, adherence to evaluators' prescribed standards, and comparatively greater caution and rigor in marking answer scripts meant that students did not receive higher marks. As a result, students who did not achieve their desired results felt that they had received lower marks than expected. In particular, the tendency to apply for re-scrutiny was higher in subjects where results were relatively weak, such as English and Mathematics. For instance, among the 277,665 applications in the Dhaka Education Board, the highest number was in English (46,000), followed by Mathematics (34,000). The same pattern was observed in other education boards as well. However, officials from the education boards stated that just because applications for script re-scrutiny have increased, there is no guarantee that a large number of students' results will change.
In this regard, Professor Syed Akhtaruzzaman, Coordinator of the Inter-Education Board and Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, said, "There is only one reason for the increase in applications this year: the evaluation of answer scripts under a new method, that broke away from the traditional re-scrutiny practices. I hope that these scripts will be re-scrutinized quickly and the results published."
Professor Khondoker Ehsanul Kabir, former Chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, said that the opportunity for re-scrutiny is a student's right. One of the main reasons for the surge in script challenges is the change in the law this year. In addition, not achieving the desired results, failing or not having grades changed due to a few marks, and the change in the evaluation method have all contributed. Previously, re-scrutiny only involved checking whether marks for any question had been omitted, whether there were arithmetic errors in the tally, or whether any answer had been left unevaluated. This year, significant changes have been made. Now, a student's entire answer script will be re-evaluated.
He added that this is why students applied in larger numbers, feeling optimistic.
