Feni, April 23 -- 19 pandemic continue to ripple through Feni's education sector, with the number of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinees plunging by nearly 13,500 in just four years - a drop of 36.3 percent that has alarmed stakeholders.

According to education office data, 37,085 students took part in the examinations in 2022, but the number has declined since then, falling to 23,609 in 2026.

Officials attributed the downward trend largely to the pandemic period, when examinations were suspended and educational institutions remained closed for a prolonged period.

They said many students dropped out during that time and later got involved in child labour or other work. Although schools reopened, no effective init...