Dr. Ashish Kumar Chakraborty
In childhood, while writing an essay on student life, I used to begin with the line: ‘Chhatranam Adhyayanam Tapah’ — that is, study itself is the penance of students. Student life is the most opportune time to acquire knowledge on various subjects, because generally there is no mental pressure of household and other matters at that age. As a result, through perseverance a student can achieve the desired result and build himself as a worthy citizen for the future of the country.
But this year’s HSC examination results have changed all our assumptions. The biggest decline in 22 years has left the country stunned. Not only that, the number of students securing GPA-5 has also decreased at an alarming rate. The number of institutions where no one passed has increased. On the other hand, the number of institutions with 100 percent pass has decreased. This is the picture that has emerged in this year’s HSC examination results of the country’s nine general education boards.
This year 35 thousand students secured GPA-5; last year the number was 63 thousand. This means that despite having the desire for higher education, many will not be able to take part in the admission tests. The total number of examinees was about 10.5 lakh; 5 lakh 40 thousand passed. That is, almost half of the students failed! This is alarming. In a word, there is no scope to dismiss the matter. The root causes must be found with the highest importance.
Such a terrible result catastrophe in this important examination of students’ lives is a matter of shame and an ominous sign for the whole of Bangladesh. Does this mean that the future of our next generation is dark? I believe that finding answers to these questions through deep inquiry and taking rapid steps on a priority basis is the demand of the time.
Alongside infrastructural defects, shortcomings in teaching, shortage of teachers and adverse weather, I want to mention some other important factors as reasons. Encouraging young students to join the 2024 movement blindly is where the decline in studies began. Getting involved in movements at the drop of a hat, unbridled misuse of social media, use of mobile phones at an immature age, the spread of teen gangs due to parental negligence, and misuse of information technology — these are also largely responsible.
Primary school students are now seen using mobile phones indiscriminately. As a result, mobile addiction is increasing, and health risks are rising in parallel. I believe the evil consequences of these are among the main reasons for this year’s result catastrophe. Uncontrolled use of Facebook, the indulgence of some parents, and not trying to keep children under control at the right time have encouraged the adolescent community to go on an unrestricted and uncontrolled path. Its negative impact is falling on studies, the clear proof of which is the 2026 HSC examination results. Its severe impact will be seen in this year’s higher education admission tests.
From the experience of running our own two medical education institutions (Universal Medical College and Universal Nursing College), the matter that is catching my eye is the irresponsibility, laxity and excessive indulgence of some parents towards their children, which is obstructing the normal activities of student life. It is often seen that students are remaining absent from classes and showing widespread disinterest in other educational activities. When the college contacts them, most parents or guardians give negative reactions. They even take a stand in favour of their children’s unstudent-like behaviour. Such behaviour can become a cause of result catastrophe in professional examinations and stand as an obstacle on the path of a better future.
When we were students, such incidents were beyond imagination. If the guardians came to know, there was no escape!
My home is in Sarail of Brahmanbaria. For the last 15 years I have been awarding the ‘Ashutosh Chakraborty Memorial Education Scholarship’ there in the sacred memory of my late father. Every year 100 students securing the first position from class six to ten of 10 to 15 best local schools are given this scholarship. The national-level scholarship awarding ceremony is organised in the presence of a minister or a high-ranking government official. Along with it a colourful souvenir is published, which contains the photographs and result details of all the scholarship recipients.
Although painful, it is true that while editing the souvenir I have seen that even the first-position holders of some schools did not get GPA-5, which is alarming. This information itself reflects the picture of the overall quality of the country’s education system. Therefore, the state must deeply realise this crisis period and take necessary measures.
Political goodwill alone will not be enough. I believe that increasing social and family surveillance is an extremely important chapter. So far we have only been worried and anxious about the deterioration of law and order in the country. But alongside various aspects of social degradation, the lack of quality education and surveillance is also clear. At this transitional moment, the result catastrophe of the 2026 Higher Secondary examination has given birth to a new crisis. Incidents like suicide due to frustration may also be associated with it, which is never desirable.
Therefore, without remaining dependent only on the government, every family and guardian must give the highest importance to building children with human values and making them attentive to studies, keeping in mind their bright future — this is our expectation. Because, first of all, to build Bangladesh we need enlightened people, who will build the Bangladesh of tomorrow.
Dr. Ashish Kumar Chakraborty
Managing Director
Universal Medical College Hospital, Dhaka
Universal Medical Services Limited, Brahmanbaria
News Published By:
Bangladesh Diary
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