BGSTA Urges Scrapping Lottery, Reviving Written Tests for Govt School Admissions

The Bangladesh Association of Bangladesh Government Secondary Teachers' Association (BGSTA) has demanded the restoration of written exams for student admissions in government secondary schools, replacing the lottery system, which it claims is destroying educational quality and leaving students' futures uncertain.

In a letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Education's Secondary and Higher Education Division on Sunday, BASMASHIS Convener A.K.M. Azad and Member Secretary Md. Abdul Mubin urged the scrapping of the "education-destroying" lottery method, introduced during the previous regime and reportedly set to continue in 2026. The letter noted that parents and students have protested with human chains in various districts following news of its persistence.

The letter stated, "The lottery system is primarily responsible for ruining students' future academic lives. It is gradually eroding merit, hard work, and competitive spirit, casting an adverse shadow on the country's education system."

BASMASHIS argued that written exams are the most effective way to assess merit and ensure fair competition. It warned that continuing the lottery could fuel parental and student resentment, potentially leading to instability.

The letter called on the 2026 admission committee to abolish the lottery and reinstate competitive exams to safeguard students' futures and alleviate parental concerns. A copy was sent to the Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education.