Primary school admissions for Class One will no longer involve written or oral admission tests from the 2027 academic year, with student selection set to take place entirely through a digital lottery system.
The Ministry of Education announced the decision in a press release issued on Thursday, 6 August, signed by Abdullah Shibli Sadik, Senior Information Officer at the ministry.
According to the official press release, while admission examinations for entry into Class One are being completely abolished to reduce academic pressure on young children, standard admission tests will remain in place for entry into all other grades across primary and secondary schools.
Alongside the policy change for primary admissions, the ministry revealed the official release date for this year’s Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examination results. The long-awaited results are scheduled to be published nationwide on 10 August.
Education boards across the country have completed technical preparations to ensure smooth result dissemination. Candidates will be able to access their individual marks through official educational board portals, designated SMS services, and directly from their respective academic institutions on the day of publication.
The abolition of entry exams for young learners aligns with broader educational reforms aimed at easing mental stress for infants entering formal schooling. Education experts have long advocated for lottery-based admissions at the entry level to ensure equal opportunity and prevent commercialised coaching culture targeted at young children.
These twin announcements address key concerns for millions of students and parents across the country, paving the way for structural reforms in primary education while bringing closure to candidates awaiting their secondary school qualifications.
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