Shahidul Islam Sohel, Sylhet 

The Sylhet Education Board recorded a pass rate of 50.90 percent in this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, marking the lowest pass rate for the board in 13 years.

A total of 1,204 students achieved the highest grade point average of GPA-5 under the board this year. Controller of Examinations Professor Bilkis Begum formally announced the official results during a press conference held at the Sylhet Education Board premises on Saturday morning.

The current performance reflects a decline compared to 2025, when the board recorded a 51.86 percent pass rate with 1,602 students securing GPA-5. According to official board data, a total of 71,893 examinees appeared for the HSC examinations this year under the Sylhet board, compared to 69,172 candidates in the preceding year.

Addressing the outcome, Controller of Examinations Professor Bilkis Begum stated that a higher rate of candidate absenteeism impacted the overall pass percentage, alongside adverse weather conditions and situational challenges experienced during the examination period.

She further informed that while students from six educational institutions in the division achieved a 100 percent pass rate, three institutions recorded zero passing students, including one institution in Habiganj and two in Sunamganj. The board official assured that targeted measures are being undertaken to elevate educational standards and improve academic performance across the division.

Board records show that Sylhet Board recorded pass rates of 85.39 percent in 2024, 71.62 percent in 2023, 81.40 percent in 2022, and 94.80 percent in 2021, following a 100 percent auto-pass evaluation in 2020. Prior pass rates included 67.05 percent in 2019, 73.07 percent in 2018, 72.00 percent in 2017, 68.59 percent in 2016, 74.57 percent in 2015, and 79.16 percent in 2014. Board officials noted that the 2020 results were calculated based on past SSC evaluations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 examinations were conducted on a shortened syllabus combined with past standardized assessment scores.