TDS Desk:

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked the authorities concerned to find out the reasons as to why boys are declining in number and lagging behind girls in their academic results.

“We’ve to find out the reasons as to why the boys are fewer in numbers,” she said while publishing the results of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations- 2024 on Sunday morning.

The premier unveiled the results online through pressing a button at a ceremony at her official residence Ganabhaban. Earlier, Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury handed over the results summary and statistics to the premier.

She said the total number of candidates is 20,38,150 under 11 education boards this year. Among them, the number of boys is 9,99,364, while that of girls is 10,38,786.

The PM said it needs to take initiative now for unearthing the causes that boys are declining in number.

“In case of the pass percentage, the girls are ahead of boys. It is fine. Even then I would like to say that we’ve to pay attention to it,” she said.

Hasina said her government distributes free textbooks in time, provides stipends and scholarships till the higher education and transformed the country into Digital Bangladesh.

The prime minister also asked Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and education boards to look into the matter and find the reason as to why the number of students is reducing. “The number of boys is not supposed to go down. It should be equal (to that of girls),” she added.

PM Hasina asked all to find the reasons why children are getting engaged in teenage gang and bring them back to a healthy environment.

“In the recent times, we hear about teen gangs. It’s not acceptable. Why boys and girls would go this way?,” she said.

The children in their teens should pursue study and join other positive activities, said the prime minister.

“But we’ve to find out why they go this way. We’ll have to prevent them from it and bring them back to a healthy atmosphere,” she added.

The premier congratulated those who have passed the examinations and their parents, guardians and teachers.

Pointing at those who failed, she said there is nothing for them to be upset. If they pursue studies very attentively, they will be successful next time.

The PM asked the guardians not to scold the unsuccessful students saying that the students are already upset for failing to pass.

“In this situation, why would parents compound his or her pain?  Rather the parents should console and motivate their children to pursue the study more attentively. They should express sympathy. The reason is that if the parents show resentment, their children can’t tolerate it,” she said.

Noting that her government increased the literacy rate to 65.5 percent from 45 percent during the 1996-2001 period, she said it was unfortunate that the rate declined to 44 percent in 2009.

She said her government took initiatives again and now the literacy rate has gone up to some 76 percent. “I think it is a big achievement within 15 years,” she added.

The prime minister extended her sincere thanks to all concerned for help in publishing the SSC and equivalent results before the stipulated time of 60 days.

This year, SSC and its equivalent examinations began across the country on 15 February. The written exams ended on 12 March and the practical exams concluded on 20 March.