Numerous Higher Secondary Candidates in Bengal Board Miss Exams Post Registration
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Synopsis
In recent years, a significant number of higher secondary students in Bengal are not attending their exams post-registration. Experts indicate that many switch to different boards or take jobs due to financial constraints. This trend raises alarms about the declining interest in the West Bengal Board, with thousands failing to appear for their examinations each year.
Key Takeaways
- Increasing dropout rates among registered candidates.
- Switching to other boards is a common trend.
- Financial pressures force candidates to take temporary jobs.
- Approximately 45,000 registered candidates did not appear for the exam.
- Calls for investigation into declining interest remain unaddressed.
Kolkata, March 4 (NationPress) Concerns are growing regarding the rising number of higher secondary candidates under the West Bengal Board who are opting out of exams despite having registered. Education experts suggest that this trend reflects a decreasing interest in the state board's offerings.
Experts propose two primary reasons for this phenomenon. Firstly, many candidates choose to switch to different educational boards for their higher secondary studies even after registering with the West Bengal Board.
Secondly, some candidates, even after registration, are compelled to seek temporary employment due to financial pressures, foregoing the opportunity to sit for the examination.
The decline in participation is evident this year, with only around 5.09 lakh candidates sitting for the Uccha Madhyamik examination, despite 5.54 lakh having registered after completing their Madhyamik (Secondary) exams.
This statistic reveals that approximately 45,000 candidates did not show up for the Uccha Madhyamik exams this year, even though they had completed the registration process.
Moreover, historical data indicates that this issue has been escalating in recent years. In 2024, only 7.89 lakh candidates appeared for the Uccha Madhyamik exams, whereas 9.13 lakh had registered in 2022.
In 2023, just 8.18 lakh candidates appeared for the exams, in contrast to the 10.51 lakh registrations in 2022.
“Despite calls from the educational community in the state for an in-depth investigation into the waning interest in the state board, no measures have yet been taken,” commented an unnamed official from the state education department.
