Over One Lakh Students Skip College Admission Despite Passing SSC in 2025

A staggering number of students who passed the 2025 SSC and equivalent exams have not applied for admission to Class XI in colleges and madrasas, leaving education officials puzzled. While 10.73 lakh students applied for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year, 13.03 lakh students passed the SSC exams across 11 general education boards. Even after excluding around 1 lakh students who passed under the Technical Education Board, over 1 lakh eligible students have opted out of applying for higher secondary education. The first phase of admission results is set to be released tomorrow, Wednesday, August 20, 2025, as the mystery deepens.

According to Dhaka Education Board sources, 19.04 lakh students appeared for the SSC and equivalent exams, with 13.03 lakh passing, as announced on July 10, 2025. This leaves over 6 lakh students who failed. However, with 26.66 lakh available seats in colleges and madrasas alone—part of a total 33.25 lakh seats, including 9 lakh in technical HSC programs and 2.41 lakh in polytechnics—there’s no shortage of spots. Even if every passer applied, over 20 lakh seats would remain vacant, signaling a surplus of opportunities but a worrying trend of non-participation.

Board-wise, Dhaka saw 3.81 lakh students appear, with 2.56 lakh passing; Madrasa Board had 2.94 lakh examinees (1.50 lakh boys, 1.43 lakh girls); Technical Board had 1.43 lakh (1.08 lakh boys, 34,928 girls); Jessore had 1.28 lakh, with 1.02 lakh passing; Chittagong had 1.41 lakh, with 1.01 lakh passing (71.93% boys, 72.19% girls); Comilla had 1.67 lakh, with 1.06 lakh passing; Barisal had 84,702, with 46,758 passing; Mymensingh had 1.05 lakh, with 61,456 passing; Dinajpur had 1.85 lakh, with 1.22 lakh passing; and Sylhet had 1.02 lakh, with 70,091 passing.

From July 30 to August 6, 2025, 8.62 lakh students applied for Class XI admission: 1.93 lakh in Dhaka, 1.12 lakh in Madrasa, 76,511 in Comilla, 95,607 in Rajshahi, 73,036 in Jessore, 77,953 in Chittagong, 29,753 in Barisal, 51,822 in Sylhet, 82,726 in Dinajpur, and 42,164 in Mymensingh. The centralized admission process, managed online by BUET under the Dhaka Education Board, requires no entrance exams—students are selected based on SSC results, merit, quotas (if applicable), and college preferences (minimum 5, maximum 10). Technical Board admissions are handled separately.

Historically, most students apply in the first phase, but mismatches in preferences or results leave some unselected. Two additional phases allow further applications, yet many still don’t apply. A Dhaka Board survey revealed a shocking factor: 41% of SSC examinees who didn’t appear for the exam are married, raising concerns about child marriage and dropout risks. Other reasons include migration abroad and loss of interest in studies. Professor Md. Noorunnabi Alam from Comilla Education Board told The Daily Campus, “Many SSC passers go abroad, get married, or lose interest, reducing applicant numbers.” Last year, 1.42 lakh students passed in Comilla, but only 1.20 lakh enrolled.

Professor Khandaker Ehsanul Kabir, Chairman of Dhaka Education Board and Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee, told The Daily Campus, “Two more application phases remain, so some may still apply. Since the process isn’t complete, we can’t pinpoint the exact number or reasons yet.” With 33.25 lakh seats dwarfing the 13.03 lakh passers, the gap hints at deeper social issues like early marriage and emigration, threatening Bangladesh’s education goals.