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An unusually high number of regular students are not appearing for this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations, raising concerns among education experts.
The HSC and equivalent examinations began on Thursday across the country.
According to data from the Ministry of Education and the country's 11 education boards, nearly 1.5 million students enrolled in Class XI after passing the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations in the 2024-25 academic session. However, only about 950,000 students have completed examination registration for this year's HSC exams.
As a result, around 550,000 regular students approximately 36 per cent of those originally enrolled- are not sitting for the examinations.
The absence rate has increased significantly compared with last year, when just over 29per cent of regular students did not take the HSC examinations. More than 425,000 registered students skipped the exams in 2025, meaning the dropout or non-participation rate has risen by nearly seven percentage points within a year.
Technical Education Board Records Highest Absencee Rate
The situation is particularly alarming under the Bangladesh Technical Education Board, where more than 54per cent of regular students did not even complete the examination registration process this year.
Education authorities have been unable to identify a definitive reason behind the sharp rise in the number of students dropping out or failing to appear for the examinations within just two years.
However, an analysis conducted by the Dhaka Education Board on students absent from last year's SSC examinations offers some insight. Among more than 6,000 absent candidates, data from 1,350 students showed that nearly 41per cent had been married, making child marriage the leading reason for absenteeism. Other significant factors included inadequate exam preparation and financial hardship.
A similar trend was observed during this year's SSC and equivalent examinations, where more than 23per cent of students who had registered as regular candidates two years earlier did not sit for the exams.
The number of students remaining absent even after completing examination registration has also been increasing. On the first day of last year's HSC examinations, 19,759 candidates were absent, compared with 15,203 on the opening day the previous year.
General Education Boards
Under the country's nine general education boards, 1,186,461 students registered in Class XI during the 2024-25 academic year. Of them, 794,477 students completed examination registration, while 391,984 did not.
This means 33.04per cent of regular students under the general education boards will not take this year's examinations, up from around 27per cent last year.
Madrasa Education Board
The Madrasa Education Board registered 139,929 students in the first year of the Alim programme for the 2024-25 academic year. Among them, 78,269 students registered for the examinations, while more than 61,000 students did not.
As a result, 44.07per cent of regular Alim students are not appearing for the examinations this year, compared with about 39per cent in the previous year.
Bangladesh Technical Education Board
The Bangladesh Technical Education Board recorded the highest non-participation rate.
Out of 165,542 students enrolled in Class XI (Vocational), only 75,197 completed examination registration, while 90,345 students did not.
Consequently, 54.58% of regular vocational students are not taking this year's examinations, a sharp increase from approximately 40% last year.
While speaking to SM Kamal Uddin Haider, Secretary of the Dhaka Education Board, said that many students choose not to appear for the examinations because they feel inadequately prepared and instead opt to take the exams the following year.
HSC Examinations Underway
At a press briefing, education ministry officials announced that a total of 1,270,583 candidates, including both regular and irregular examinees, are taking part in this year's HSC and equivalent examinations.
The examinations are being held at 2,697 centres nationwide. Candidates are permitted to enter examination centres from 8:30AM.
Police officers assigned to examination centres will wear body-worn cameras to strengthen security and monitoring.
The written examinations will conclude over a period of 21 days. On days when no examinations are scheduled, educational institutions serving as examination centres will continue their regular classroom activities.
