The pass rate of female students in secondary and higher secondary level more than doubled in the past 28 years, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday.

“In 1990, 30% female students passed the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations while 31% Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations but in 2019, the pass rate of female students was over 83% and 75% in SSC and HSC respectively,” said Dipu.

The minister was speaking at a press briefing held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium marking the International Women’s Day.

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According to the report of Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information & Statistics (BANBEIS)-2019, the number of female students in secondary level in 2020 was 55 .07% while 50.27% in Higher Secondary and 35.21% in university level.

Besides, the number of female students in Madrasha level is 55.25% in 2020, according to BANBEIS, she said.

“Some 75% female students in Honours and its equivalent level got scholarship from PM’s Education Assistant Trust while in the 2012-2013 and 2020-2021 academic year, the government has distributed  Tk 476,21,77,700 among 9,71,873 female students from the trust.” she said.

Bangladesh is now a role model in the development of women in the global arena and the government has taken so many multipurpose initiatives to continue the progress of the development during Covid-19, she added.

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The government has allocated USD 1,460 to keep the economy going and tackle the outbreak through 28 stimulus packages and it also distributed 4,000 sewing machines and Tk 40 lakh to destitute women in 64 districts on the occasion of the 91st birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunessa Mujib,  Dipu said.