Dhaka:The Ministry of Education has unveiled the admission policy for government secondary schools across Bangladesh for the 2027 academic year. The policy introduces a digital lottery system for admission into class one and written examinations for classes two through nine, targeting vacant seats.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Bangladesh Government School Admission Policy 2027 was published by the Secondary and Higher Education Division on Tuesday night. The policy outlines that all application processes, fee collections, and result publications will be conducted online.
Each class section will accommodate 55 students, with eligibility for class one admission limited to children aged between five and seven years as of January 1, 2027. Applicants are required to submit an attested copy of their online birth registration certificate for age verification. Students with special needs may receive an age-limit relaxation of up to five years.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) will centrally manage the digital lottery for class one. Applicants can choose up to five schools in order of preference, and selecting both shifts of a double-shift school will count as two preferences. Efforts will be made to ensure transparency in the lottery process.
For classes two through five, the written test will carry 50 marks, divided into 15 marks each for Bangla and English, and 20 for mathematics, lasting one hour. For classes six through nine, the test will carry 100 marks, with 30 marks each for Bangla and English, and 40 for mathematics, over two hours. Questions will be based on textbooks published by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) and must align with the relevant grade level.
The maximum application fee is set at Tk 110 for class one and Tk 250 for classes two through nine. Admission fees, including session charges, will comply with directives from the Ministry of Education.
In terms of seat reservations, 40 per cent of seats in government schools in Dhaka will be reserved for students from local catchment areas, while 60 per cent will be open to all applicants. Additionally, 10 per cent of class six seats are reserved for students promoted from independent government primary schools. Other quotas include five per cent for children of freedom fighters, two per cent for students with special needs, two per cent for children of Ministry of Education employees, three per cent for siblings of current students, and two per cent for twins. An extra five per cent of seats are reserved for children of government employees who require admission due to parental transfers.
Separate admission committees at the metropolitan, district, and upazila levels will oversee the process. The new policy comprehensively outlines the procedures for student selection, examination marks, application fees, and reserved seats for the 2027 academic year.