The Ministry of Education's Secondary and Higher Education Division released the new admission policy for government schools, applicable to students from grades 1 to 9, on Wednesday.
According to the policy, students can be admitted to entry-level classes and up to grade 9, depending on the availability of seats. In accordance with the National Education Policy 2010, admission for students aged 6 and above must be ensured. However, as of January 1 of the desired academic year, a student’s minimum age should be 5 years, and the maximum age should be 7 years by December 31. For example, for the 2025 academic year, the minimum birth date for admission would be January 1, 2020, and the maximum would be December 31, 2017.
This age guideline will continue to apply for subsequent classes, following the entry-level admission. To verify the student’s age, a certified copy of the online birth registration certificate must be submitted with the application form. Special needs students will receive an age relaxation of up to five additional years.
The academic year will run from January 1 to December 31, and each class section will accommodate up to 55 students.
Admission Committees: The policy establishes admission committees for government schools. In Dhaka, the committee will be led by the Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education. At the district level, the committee will be chaired by the Deputy Commissioner, and at the upazila level, by the Upazila Executive Officer.
Admission Dates and Fees: The Secondary and Higher Education Division will determine the date and time of the central digital lottery as well as the application fee. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education will conduct the entire admission process through a central digital lottery system.
School Preferences in Applications: Each student can select up to five schools for admission. If a student opts for both shifts in a double-shift school, it will be considered as two separate preferences. To ensure greater transparency in the admission process, the student's final choice of school will be confirmed through a software system.
