Aachol Foundation today expressed deep concern over the deaths of at least 10 students in different parts of the country following the publication of the 2026 SSC and equivalent examination results.
Family members and local sources cited in media reports said that the students experienced severe psychological distress after failing their exams or not achieving their expected results following the publication of the results on August 10, according to a press statement.
Of the 10 reported deaths, seven were girls and three were boys.
The foundation said the reported deaths occurred in Rajshahi, Kushtia, Chapainawabganj, Chandpur, Chattogram, Sherpur, Gopalganj, Meherpur, Cumilla, and Chuadanga.
Data compiled by Aachol Foundation also highlight the wider scale of student suicides. At least 403 students died by suicide in 2025, compared to 310 in 2024, 513 in 2023, and 532 in 2022.
The foundation criticised the country’s rote-learning and results-oriented education system, saying greater emphasis should be placed on practical, career-oriented and skills-based education.
Aachol Foundation called for urgent government action and outlined eight measures to prevent student suicides.
It urged families to provide students with special attention and supervision during examinations and for at least two weeks after results are published.
The foundation also called for trained counsellors and necessary mental health services in every secondary and higher secondary educational institution, as well as dedicated hotlines and specialised psychological support programmes before and after public examination results.
It called for teachers and parents to be trained to identify signs of psychological distress, behavioural changes and potential suicide risks among students and provide appropriate support.
The foundation further urged the government to launch a nationwide awareness campaign discouraging parents from humiliating, punishing, threatening or comparing children with others over poor examination results.
The recommendations also included effective institutional support and referral systems to identify and monitor psychologically vulnerable students and connect them with appropriate mental health services.
The foundation also urged media outlets and social media platforms to avoid exaggerated or sensationalised coverage and any presentation of a suicide case that could encourage imitation.
It stressed that failing an examination or receiving a result below expectations should never determine a student’s worth or future.
