Dhaka: The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education in Bangladesh has published the revised policy for the Junior Scholarship Examination 2025 for Class VIII students.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the new policy allows Class VIII students of recognized secondary schools to participate in the examination based on the prescribed quota and merit, as stated in a press release.
Examination Controller of the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, Dhaka, Professor SM Kamal Uddin Haider, who is also the Member Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Junior Scholarship Examination 2025, signed the release. The policy specifies that a minimum of 20 percent and a maximum of 40 percent of Class VIII students in approved secondary or lower secondary level educational institutions will be eligible to sit for the scholarship examination. Selection will be based on Class VII cumulative results, and the National Steering Committee may adjust the participation rate if necessary.
The examination will cover a total of 400 marks, with Bangla, English, and Mathematics each accounting for 100 marks, while Science and Bangladesh and Global Studies (BGS) will account for 50 marks each. Each examination will last three hours, with an additional 30 minutes for students with special needs. The question paper will be based on the National Curriculum and Textbook Board's Class VIII textbook.
Scholarships will be awarded in two categories: talent pool and general. The board fee is set at Taka 400 per examinee, and the center fee is Taka 200. Scholarships will be equally reserved for boys and girls, but if no eligible candidates are found within a quota, the scholarships can be transferred between genders.
The policy also allows students who transfer schools after receiving a transfer certificate to participate in the examination, with their names included based on their previous institution's merit list. Unauthorized participation will lead to departmental action against the school's Headmaster and cancellation of the student's candidature or result.