YANGON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- About 55,495 students failed to sit for nationwide matriculation examinations which began on Wednesday in Myanmar for 2017-2018 academic year, the local media Standard Time Daily reported Thursday.

Out of 844,358 registered students, about 788,863 students were present to take the examinations across the country until March 16.

A total of 1,742 examination centers, including 122 centers in Rakhine state and 21 centers for students residing abroad, were opened, according to the Information Ministry.

More than 40,000 students registered to sit for the matriculation exams in Rakhine state, according to a statement from the Information Committee.

Tight security measures have been imposed in Rakhine state during the exam periods.

Meanwhile, more than 150 disabled students including 21 blinds, nine deaf and 126 physically-handicapped students sat for the exams across the nation.

In last academic year 2016-2017, about 242,736 students passed the exam out of 716,188 registered.

Accordance with the figures from the Education Ministry, the pass rate of last academic year was 33.89 percent.

Students in Myanmar are set to take such matriculation exams before joining universities.