By Md. Mukhlesur Rahman: Failing an examination may be a temporary setback in life, but it should never be regarded as a failure of one’s entire life. Unfortunately, our society often treats examination results as the ultimate measure of success or failure. As a result, some students who fail to achieve their expected results become overwhelmed by frustration, humiliation and uncertainty about the future. Recent reports of student suicides following the publication of examination results have deeply concerned us and compel us to reconsider the responsibilities of families, educational institutions and society.Following the publication of the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination results, reports of student suicides emerged from several parts of Bangladesh, including Satkhira, Magura and Lakshmipur. The actual circumstances behind each incident must be properly investigated. It would be wrong to attribute every such tragedy solely to examination results. At the same time, we cannot afford to overlook the psychological pressure and emotional distress experienced by students.Examination Results Are Not the Final Word in LifeGood examination results are important, but marks alone cannot determine a person’s overall intelligence, abilities, creativity or future potential. Some people excel academically, while others demonstrate exceptional abilities in practical work, business, technology, agriculture, industry, arts, literature or social service. Everyone has different strengths and follows a different path to success.The lives of many internationally recognised personalities offer examples of individuals who did not achieve conventional academic success or had limited opportunities for formal education. Inventor Thomas Alva Edison had very limited formal schooling. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill failed the entrance examination for a military academy twice before succeeding on his third attempt. Entrepreneur Richard Branson left school at the age of 16. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore did not complete his formal schooling through the conventional education system. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has also described himself as not being an especially outstanding student during his school years. Indian industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani achieved remarkable business success despite not receiving higher formal education.Bangladesh also has inspiring examples. National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam had a relatively short formal education. Due to poverty and difficult circumstances, he left school while studying in the tenth grade and entered working life. He subsequently made extraordinary contributions to Bengali literature and music.Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder of BRAC, was admitted to the University of Dhaka but did not complete his studies there. He later achieved international recognition for his contributions to development and human welfare.There are also notable examples from Bangladesh’s business and industrial sectors. Sheikh Akij Uddin, founder of Akij Group, had limited opportunities for formal education. Beginning life amid poverty and adversity, he built one of the country’s largest industrial conglomerates through initiative, hard work and business acumen. M. A. Hashem, founder of Partex Group, began his professional career in the tobacco trade and subsequently established a significant position in industry and business.These examples demonstrate that failing an examination, having limited formal education or being unable to complete higher studies does not determine a person’s future. However, their lives should not be used as arguments against the importance of education. Rather, we should learn from their perseverance, initiative, skills and ability to overcome adversity.Contributions, Not Higher Degrees, Should Be the Measure of AchievementBeing unable to study abroad or obtain an advanced academic degree does not mean that a person cannot contribute to the welfare of the country and its people. Through honesty, intelligence, skills, creativity and dedication, individuals can contribute to national development from their respective positions.A skilled farmer, entrepreneur, technician, teacher, worker, social activist or innovator can make valuable contributions to national progress. People should be assessed primarily on the basis of their work, capabilities and contributions to society, rather than merely their certificates or academic degrees.Responsibilities of Families, Educational Institutions and the StateAssociating a child’s examination results with family honour or social status, comparing children with others, or humiliating them for poor performance can intensify their psychological distress.When a student fails, what they need is not criticism or humiliation but compassion and support. Families should calmly discuss why the results were unsatisfactory and explore ways to help the student recover and move forward.Educational institutions must promote mental health awareness, provide counselling services and ensure access to professional support whenever necessary. Students who fail one or two subjects should have accessible and timely opportunities to sit for supplementary or repeat examinations.At the same time, the quality of technical and vocational education must be improved to create alternative pathways to employment and professional success. The media also have a responsibility to report suicide incidents ethically and sensitively, focusing on prevention and available support rather than sensationalism.Life Is Precious: Seek Help During Difficult TimesIslam places immense value on human life. The Holy Quran states:“Do not kill yourselves. Indeed, Allah is ever Merciful to you.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:29)Life may present difficult challenges, but surrendering to despair is never the solution. Alongside patience, perseverance and hope in the mercy of Allah, seeking help from others when necessary is equally important.When someone experiences suicidal thoughts, simply offering advice is not enough. We must listen attentively, remain supportive and, when necessary, help them access professional mental health services. If there is an immediate risk of self-harm, urgent medical assistance must be arranged.Choose to Face Challenges, Not SuicideMy message to students is simple: Never consider failing an examination the end of your life. If necessary, sit for the examination again, prepare yourself with renewed determination, discover your abilities or choose an alternative educational pathway. Instead of comparing yourself with others, concentrate on your own growth and development.Parents must give greater importance to their children’s lives and mental well-being than to their examination results. Teachers, educational institutions and the state must stand beside students who experience academic setbacks. Society must also recognise that human potential cannot be confined to the marks obtained in a single examination.The result of an examination may mark the end of one chapter in life, but it can never bring an end to the possibilities of an entire lifetime.Therefore, let us choose courage over despair, self-confidence over self-destruction, and the determination to face challenges over suicide. A failed examination is not a failed life.