‘You Can Sing Freely, Not Give Marks Freely,’ says Education Minister

Commenting on the drop in average pass rates during the 2026 Secondary School Certificate and equivalent examinations, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon asserted that student performance directly mirrors their academic preparation.

Speaking to journalists during the official result publication ceremony held on Monday morning, August 10, at the Ministry of Education conference room, the minister addressed questions surrounding the nationwide decrease in scores. Emphasizing that outcomes are tied to candidate diligence, Minister Milon indicated that results align closely with the level of study undertaken by examinees.

When questioned about examiner strictness and evaluation standards during script assessment, the minister underscored the objective nature of grading, noting:

"You can sing a song freely, but you cannot give marks freely."

The official unveiling event gathered key education officials and regional board chairpersons to release the 2026 academic results, prompting ongoing evaluations of national performance benchmarks and grading rigor across the country's education boards.