Students who fail in up to two subjects in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations may be given another opportunity to sit for the exams within 15 days of the publication of results, Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milan has said.

The proposed initiative aims to help struggling students return to the mainstream education system instead of carrying the consequences of failure forward for years. The minister shared the plan on Tuesday, October 13, at the inauguration of an orientation training course for 49th Bangladesh Civil Service (General Education) cadre officials at the Rural Development Academy auditorium in Bogura.

Under the proposed arrangement, students who fail in a maximum of two subjects would be allowed to retake the examinations within 15 days of the results being published. Their performance in the retake would determine whether they could continue in the general education system.

Students who fail to meet the requirements in the second examination could be transferred to technical or vocational education, the minister said.

He stressed the need to address the challenges faced by students who fail or drop out of school, saying the government was considering ways to help them recover academically and continue their education.

The minister also highlighted the importance of cultural activities, sports and moral education. He said the government was placing greater emphasis on these areas from Class Four, alongside the concept of “Learning with Happiness.”

The proposal signals a potential change in how SSC failures are handled, with a focus on providing an early second chance and directing students towards educational pathways suited to their performance.