Lottery or Exam for School Admission – Decision Expected Today

Debate has intensified over whether student admissions for the 2026 academic year in government and private schools will be conducted through a lottery system or based on entrance examinations. The Guardians’ Unity Forum has demanded that the digital lottery system remain in place across all educational institutions, while teachers of government secondary schools have expressed their preference for reinstating entrance exams.

Amid the ongoing confusion and uncertainty, the concerned authorities are scheduled to hold a crucial meeting today, Wednesday (29 October), to reach a decision on the issue.

Dr Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, Director of the Secondary Wing at the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), stated, “No final decision has yet been taken regarding the admission process for the upcoming academic year. Whether the lottery system will continue or entrance examinations will return will be decided today at a meeting in the Ministry of Education.”

Earlier, on Monday (27 October), teachers of government secondary schools, under the banner of the Bangladesh Government Secondary Teachers’ Association (BASMASIS), submitted a written proposal to Rehena Parveen, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education, urging the reinstatement of admission tests.

In their petition, the teachers argued that reinstating competitive admission tests in place of the lottery system is essential for safeguarding students’ academic futures and easing parental anxiety. They warned that failure to restore entrance exams could lead to instability or disorder in various parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the Guardians’ Unity Forum has demanded that the lottery-based admission process continue for all grades and that all forms of quota be abolished.

In a statement, the organisation said that a lottery-based system would ensure transparency and accountability in the admission process, while also freeing young students from the growing pressure of admission coaching centres.