345 institutions achieve 100% pass rate, 202 record zero in HSC 2025

A total of 345 institutions across the country achieved a 100% pass rate, while an alarming 202 institutions recorded zero pass, according to the results of this year‍‍`s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations published today (16 October).

The overall pass rate for the 2025 HSC and equivalent exams dropped sharply to 58.83% across 11 education boards - a decline of 18.95% from last year‍‍`s 77.78%.

The examinations were held at 2,797 centres nationwide, beginning on 26 June.

The examinations saw some 12,35,661 candidates participate across the general education boards.

Of them, a total of 7,26,960 students successfully passed the exams across the nine general education boards, Madrasha Education Board, and the Technical Education Board this year.

This year, 5,08,701 students failed to pass the exams.

Among the general boards, Dhaka Board topped the list with a 64.62% pass rate, followed by Barishal (62.57%) and Rajshahi (59.40%). Boards performing below the 55% threshold included Cumilla (48.86%), Jashore (50.20%), Chattogram (52.57%), Sylhet (51.86%), and Mymensingh (51.54%).

Meanwhile, the Madrasah Education Board recorded a pass rate of 75.61%, while the Technical Board achieved 62.67%.

Commenting on the results, Dhaka Education Board Chairman and Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee President Khandaker Ehsanul Kabir said the answer scripts were evaluated following official guidelines, with examiners taking additional time to ensure accuracy.

"The answer scripts were evaluated according to the rules. Most of the failed students struggled in English, Mathematics, and ICT. The examiners took extra time for marking - this is the real result," he said.

He described the outcome as "unexpected," saying nearly half the students failing was a wake-up call.

"Almost half of the students failing in the HSC and equivalent exams is unfortunate. Through this result, we are standing before a mirror - the flaws are visible," he said.

"This reality has presented itself to us; we did not fabricate it. The results are poor but also real. We believe many students became disengaged from studies and stayed away from their books. It is now the responsibility of all concerned stakeholders to find the reasons behind this," he added.