A total of 2,009 students were absent and two were expelled during the SSC Bengali (compulsory) second paper examination under the Jessore Education Board, officials said. Of the 135,471 candidates across 299 centers, 133,462 appeared for the exam.
While the attendance rate was satisfactory, educationists said the high number of absentees reflected a deeper reality. The prolonged instability in the education sector following the 2024 political upheaval — including class and exam disruptions, student-led protests, and decisions such as automatic promotions during the interim government — has taken a visible toll on students’ preparedness and confidence.
Educationists said the prolonged gaps in regular instruction had eroded students’ self-assurance, leaving many hesitant to sit for exams or unprepared to do so. Some cases of cheating, reflected in the expulsions, may also stem from inadequate preparation, they added.
District-level figures showed notable participation across Khulna (18,251), Jessore (18,571), and Kushtia (16,351), but the overall absentee numbers underscored structural weaknesses in the education system.
Analysts warned that if the situation persists, it will have long-term consequences for educational standards, assessment integrity, and future workforce competence. The priority, they said, must be restoring stability to campuses, ensuring regular instruction, and rebuilding student confidence — not merely holding exams.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report