The punishments include cancellation of the MPO (monthly pay order) and issuance of warning to improve performance in public examinations.

"MPO and approval are no permanent privileges," Education Minister Dr Osman Farruk told reporters, adding that the ministry will cancel the MPOs of the educational institutions with zero pass records for three consecutive years.

Education ministry officials said warning will be issued against institutions from which none came out successful in this year's SSC examinations so that they can better perform in the future.

From 409 educational institutions none could pass the SSC examinations this year. These unsuccessful institutions include 224 madrasas, 89 institutions under the Rajshahi Education Board, 47 under Dhaka board, 37 under Barisal, five under Chittagong, four under Sylhet and three under the Jessore Education Board.

There are no unsuccessful educational institutions this year under Comilla board and the Technical Education Board, according to education boards statistics.

The number of institutions with zero-pass rate was 567 in 2004 and 642 in 2003.

The ministry has so far cancelled MPOs of some 42 educational institutions for poor performance in 2004.

Earlier, a committee was formed with educationists, researchers and non-government organisations in the education sector to determine the cause of mediocre performance and its remedy.