Altogether 80.39% of students who sat for this year's Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams have cleared the tests, which is 7.05% lower than last year.

The pass rate was 87.44% last year and 93.58% the year before.

Education Minister Dipu Moni handed over the results to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday morning.

This year the school-leaving public exams began across the country on April 30 and ended on May 28. Prior to the Covid pandemic, the SSC exams used to start in February.

A total of 2,041,450 students under 11 education boards took the exams.

The exams were held on all subjects but on curtailed syllabuses.