STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS ON EDUCATION: LESSONS LEARNED FROM SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) is the first public examination for students in Bangladesh, serving as a critical gateway to higher education and significantly impacting their career development.This study aims to explore students' perceptions on the education system, particularly at the SSC level in Bangladesh.Data were collected using social survey methods, with a questionnaire containing both open-ended and closed-ended questions.Most of the respondents expressed positive perceptions about the creative examination system and syllabus.Some reported feeling significant pressure due to the extensive content and a lack of proper guidance and teaching in the classroom.Consequently, many relied on private tutoring and coaching centers as supplementary education sources.For these students, learning was often associated with fear and boredom rather than enjoyment.The education system frequently pushed students toward private tutoring and coaching, as they perceived few alternatives for achieving better results without such support.At the SSC level, respondents and their parents place great importance on achieving the best results in education.However, most students do not find education enjoyable.