It is not at all normal that the number of candidates who appeared for the SSC and equivalent exams, which began on April 10, decreased by about one lakh compared to last year.
The number of candidates appearing for the SSC exams this year is 19 lakh 28 thousand 970, which is about one lakh less than in 2024.
Last time, the number of SSC and equivalent examinees was 20 lakh 24 thousand 192. This trend of decline is certainly not a good sign.
More worrying news is that despite filling out the exam form, 27,000 candidates remained absent from the exam hall.
Reportedly, many candidates who fail to do well in the two-year exam due to poverty, child marriage, illness, or lack of success in the test do not ultimately sit for the board exam. They may appear for the exam later as irregular candidates.
In the past years, we have seen that public examinations have been fraught with question paper leaks, cheating and irregularities. Many centres have also witnessed chaotic situations.
The good thing about this SSC examination is that there has been no report of any question paper leaks so far.
Although the Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee has made all the preparations to conduct the exams in a fair and completely cheating-free environment, incidents have also occurred here and there.
Some candidates were expelled for using unfair means in some centres.
Educationists and experts believe that the number of SSC examinees is decreasing mainly due to socio-economic reasons.
Parents are worried about the safety of female students and get them married off before the exams. Due to family disasters, male students are often forced to work.
For them, running a family becomes more important than studying. This is a social and economic problem.
To solve this problem, the local administration can come forward. We must be proactive at the policy-making level to prevent child labour and child marriage.
Besides administrative measures, everyone must also come forward to prevent child marriage socially.
Every parent must also be aware of the consequences of marrying off their daughter at an early age.
While the population is increasing in the country, the trend of decreasing number of SSC candidates is not a good sign.
There is no alternative to education to create competent and skilled citizens.
If this is not done, the increased population will become a burden rather than an asset.
