Ctg pass rate hits 19-year low, GPA-5 numbers fall

The SSC pass rate under the Chattogram Education Board has fallen to 59.48% this year, the lowest in the 19-year period since 2008, while the number of students securing GPA-5 has also declined.

The latest pass rate is 12.59 percentage points lower than last year's 72.07%. It is also 31.92 percentage points below the 91.40% recorded in 2014, the highest rate during the 2008-2026 period.

An analysis of results over the 19-year period shows significant fluctuations rather than a consistent upward or downward trend. The average pass rate during the period was around 79.9%, making this year's figure roughly 20.4 percentage points below the long-term average.

Board officials attributed the sharp decline mainly to poor performance in mathematics and English, particularly among Humanities students and candidates from the hill districts. The number of GPA-5 achievers fell to 9,398   this year from 11,843 in 2025, a decline of 2,445 or around 20.6%.

However, the long-term trend in GPA-5 results differs from that of the overall pass rate. The number of GPA-5 achievers increased from 4,316 in 2008 to 9,398 this year, despite considerable fluctuations.

The highest number of GPA-5 achievers was recorded in 2022, when 18,664 students secured the top grade.

Chattogram Education Board Secretary Zahirul Haque Swapan said the high failure rate in mathematics and English was a major factor behind the overall decline in the pass rate.

“Of the 129,999 candidates who sat for mathematics, 105,988 passed. The pass rate was 81.53%, the lowest among the published subjects,” he said.

English recorded a pass rate of 83.24%, while science had a pass rate of 92.78%, said Haque.

However, the available data do not establish that these factors alone caused the overall decline in the board’s pass rate.

Did curriculum changes play a role?

This year, revised and reorganised curricula for Classes VI to X, along with revised question patterns and mark distributions for the SSC examination, came into effect following approval by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).

Parent Jannatul Mawa told the Daily Sun that the possible impact of the changes should be examined.

“This year, the revised and reorganised curriculum for Classes VI to X and the revised SSC question pattern and mark distribution were introduced. A document-based investigation is needed to determine how far these NCTB-approved changes affected the results,” she said.

Of the 1,218 schools under the Chattogram board whose students sat for this year’s SSC examination, eight recorded a 0% pass rate.

Another 10 schools recorded pass rates of up to 10%, while 468 schools achieved pass rates between 11% and 50%. A total of 693 schools recorded pass rates between 51% and 99%.

Students from 21 schools achieved 100% pass rates.

The zero-pass institutions include schools in remote areas of Chattogram, Rangamati and Khagrachhari, highlighting significant geographical and institutional disparities in the results.

Despite the overall decline under the board, several leading government schools in Chattogram city performed strongly.

Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School achieved a 100% pass rate, while Dr Khastagir Government Girls’ High School recorded the highest number of GPA-5 achievers among the listed schools, with 327.

Chattogram Collegiate School recorded a 98.61% pass rate, with 293 students securing GPA-5. Chattogram Government High School had a 96.82% pass rate, with 193 GPA-5 achievers, while Chattogram Government Girls’ High School secured a 96.14% pass rate, with 155 students achieving GPA-5.

Government Muslim High School recorded a 95.91% pass rate and 183 GPA-5 achievers, while Nasirabad Government High School recorded a 95.59% pass rate, with 155 students securing GPA-5.

Among schools in the three hill districts, Lakers’ Public School and College in Rangamati was the top performer. All 161 candidates from the institution passed, with 59 securing GPA-5.