Admission Policy for Government Schools Released

The Ministry of Education has published the admission guidelines for students enrolling in government schools from Grade 1 to Grade 9. The guidelines were released by the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry on Wednesday.

According to the guidelines, admissions will be permitted in the entry-level grade and, subject to seat availability, in all grades up to Grade 9 in government secondary schools.

In line with the National Education Policy 2010, admission must be ensured for students aged 6 years and above. However, as of January 1 of the academic year, the minimum age for admission is 5 years, and the maximum age is 7 years by December 31. For example, for the 2025 academic year, a student’s minimum age must be 5 years (born on or before January 1, 2020), and the maximum age must not exceed 7 years (born on or after December 31, 2017).

For subsequent grades, the age criteria will follow the same progression as applied to Grade 1 admissions. Students must submit a certified copy of their online birth registration certificate along with the admission application form to verify their age. For students with special needs, an additional age relaxation of up to 5 years may be granted.

The academic year will run from January 1 to December 31, with each class section accommodating 55 students.

Admission Committee: Admission committees have been formed to oversee the admission process in government secondary schools. In Dhaka, the committee is led by the Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education. At the district level, the District Commissioner heads the committee, while at the upazila level, the upazila executive officer takes the lead.

Admission Dates and Fees: The Secondary and Higher Education Division will determine the centralized digital lottery's date, time, and application fee. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education will manage all activities related to the admission process through this digital lottery system.

School Preference Selection: Applicants to government secondary schools can select up to five schools in order of preference. However, for schools operating double shifts, choosing both shifts will count as two preferences (equivalent to two schools). To enhance transparency in the existing online admission process, students must finalize one educational institution from their preferred list, and this feature will be integrated into the admission software.