Many of some five lakh students who either failed in or were absent from the Junior School Certificate (JSC) and Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC) examinations will give up their studies due to poverty, educationists say.

Of over 15 lakh students registered, 1,13,248 did not turn up for

the examinations while 3,76,552 failed, according to the results published onThursday.

A huge number of these students live in rural areas and many will not take the exam twice because of their poor financial condition, educationists observed.

Instead of sitting for the exam, they will rather support their families, said Education Minister Nurul

Islam Nahid.

"We will hold a meeting soon to decide how to keep these unsuccessful students in academic life," he told reporters at the secretariat onThursday.

To reduce the number of dropout, those who failed in one or two subjects can be given another chance to take the JSC exams, chairmen of

different education boards toldThe Daily Star.

"Students who have failed in only one or two subjects can be given a chance to attend the next year's JSC examination without hampering their academic year," said SMA Abdul Khaleque, chairman of Sylhet Education Board.

The decision in this regard can be taken in consultation with the education ministry, he added.

Guardians, however, said that the two such huge public examinations of around 15 lakh students were held at a short notice and the students could not prepare themselves properly. Many failed for this reason, they added.

"Some guardians belonging to the poorer section of the society might lose interest in continuing the study of their children who failed in the first public examination of their life. They will rather engage their children in financial activities," said Sohel Talukder, a guardian of a student who obtained GPA 4.5 from Dhaka Board.

Dhaka Board Chairman ProfFahima Khatun, however, said the number of dropout will not be high in SSC, as those who passed the JSC exam will pass the SSC exam fairly easily.