Over 4.5 Lakh Students Missing from SSC and Equivalent Exams 2026

More than 4.5 lakh students who had registered as regular candidates two years ago are not appearing in this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations, which began on Tuesday (21 April).

According to data from the education boards, a total of 18,95,399 students had registered as regular examinees for the 2023-24 academic session. However, only 14,48,511 students filled up forms for this year’s examinations, meaning around 4.47 lakh students have dropped out or are absent.

Board-wise Breakdown

• 9 General Education Boards: 13,34,333 students registered two years ago; 11,05,000+ filled forms this year (over 2.28 lakh missing).
• Madrasa Education Board: 3,78,000 registered; over 2.36 lakh appearing.
• Technical Education Board: 1,83,000 registered; over 1.06 lakh appearing.

This year’s total number of examinees (regular and irregular combined) stands at over 18.57 lakh.

Education officials cited child marriage, migration abroad, and other socio-economic factors as possible reasons for the high dropout rate. Dhaka Education Board Examination Controller Professor SM Kamal Uddin Haider said the board is conducting a study to identify the exact causes. “We will look into why students are dropping out. Last year, child marriage was a major reason for girls, while many boys migrated abroad,” he added.

The examinations are being held at 3,885 centres involving 30,666 institutions. Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon has directed strict monitoring to prevent question leaks and ensure a fair process.