More than 600,000 students failed this year’s SSC and equivalent exams in Bangladesh, marking the highest number of failures in the past 15 years. The results, released on Thursday after July’s mass protests, have triggered concern among mental health professionals and educationists.
Worrying spike in psychological distress
These exam results aren’t just sorting students; they’re exposing a culture of toxic pressure. The successful are paraded as heroes, while those who fail are cast out—ridiculed by their families and abandoned by schools that now treat them as liabilities.
The consequence of this shame isn’t just emotional damage; it’s lethal. We are watching a system that, in its pursuit of success, has become a death sentence for some of its own children.
Mental health specialists warn that such outcomes could become more common if emotional pressure on students remains unaddressed.
“This one result cannot determine the entire path of someone’s life,” said a leading psychiatrist. “Students must believe they have options. Families, relatives, teachers—everyone has a role in helping build that mental strength.”
Experts propose retest opportunity within three months
In response to the spike in failures, education experts are calling for a shift from Bangladesh’s current exam structure, which only allows for one standardized public test per year.
They recommend offering a retest within three months for those who did not pass, following a short remedial learning period.
“This is already a flexible model used in many countries,” said an education policy advisor. “Instead of a rigid, centralized system, we should create space for second chances. A quality three-month academic program followed by a second exam could help many students get back on track.”
A systemic gap in support and opportunity
The broader concern, experts say, lies in the lack of equal educational opportunities. Many schools lack the capacity to support students after poor results. Some families respond with shame or silence rather than encouragement.
Without intervention, both in policy and social behavior, students who fail risk being permanently left behind—not just academically, but emotionally.
The push now is for structural change. And, just as importantly, a change in mindset.
A failed exam shouldn’t be a life sentence. But when you’re 16, it can feel exactly like one. And without a single voice to tell you that you’re more than one bad grade, that feeling can become everything.
