All candidates fail at 18 Natore institutions in this year's HSC: heads given five working days to explain

No student from 18 educational institutions in Natore district passed this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC and equivalent) examinations. The district education officer has issued show-cause notices to the heads of those institutions.

The notices ask the heads to appear at the office with a report within five working days and explain the reasons for the result disaster. District education officer Rostom Ali Helali said explanations had been sought from the heads of the institutions where all candidates failed within the next five working days, and a further decision would be taken after their replies.

District education office sources said that among the 18 institutions with no passes, two are MPO-listed and 16 are non-MPO institutions. Their teaching activities, student attendance, regular holding of examinations and teachers' performance of duties will be examined.

This year, a total of 177 institutions in the district took part in examinations under the higher secondary, technical and madrasa boards. In 18 of them, no student passed.

The two MPO-listed institutions are Chalanbil Technical School and Commerce College in Gurudaspur upazila and Shakharipara Fazil Madrasa in Naldanga upazila.

The institutions where all candidates failed include Begum Khaleda Zia Mohabidyalay in Natore Sadar upazila; Poura Mohila Technical and BM College, Tamaltala Technical and BM College and Tipuria High School and Technical College in Bagatipara upazila; Nur Mohammad Biswas Technical School and Business College, Chanchkoir Nazim Uddin School and College, Durgapur School and College and Bangabandhu Technical Science and Information and Business Institute in Gurudaspur upazila; Makram High School and College, Radhakantapur High School and College, Nengopara Alim Madrasa and Rampur Jamiria Alim Madrasa in Lalpur upazila; Agapara High School and College in Singra upazila; and Sarkutia School and College and Satar Bhag School and College in Naldanga upazila.

Some institution heads cited students' irregular attendance, inattention to studies and lack of preparation, as well as negligence by guardians, as reasons for the result disaster. Several institutions have decided to apply for re-evaluation of examination scripts. Preparations are also being made for failed students to take part in the December examinations.

Habibur Rahman, superintendent of Shakharipara Fazil Madrasa in Naldanga, said they were surprised that no one passed this year despite good results every year, and that he would apply for re-evaluation of the scripts.

Mokhlesur Rahman, principal of Chalanbil Technical School and BM College in Gurudaspur, said all 23 candidates from his institution failed in Bangla and English. They would challenge the board, and he hoped all would pass if they took the examination in the next opportunity given by the government.

Educationist Subidh Kumar Alak Maitra said it was worrying that not a single student passed from an institution, and that teaching methods, the role of teachers and management weaknesses could also lie behind it, in addition to the students.

Natore deputy commissioner Sumoni Akter said the district education officer had been instructed to inquire into the zero-pass institutions and take necessary measures.