Dhaka: State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj today clarified that private school students face no discrimination in the primary scholarship examinations. He made this statement while addressing reporters after visiting a primary scholarship examination center at Badshah Faisal Institute in Mohammadpur this morning.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bobby Hajjaj emphasized that private school students are not being discriminated against in the scholarship examinations, adhering to the proportional rate. He explained that one in eight students from government schools and one in five students from private schools are getting the opportunity to sit for the scholarship exams. The state minister stressed that students from private institutions receive equal opportunities in line with the proportional distribution of scholarships.
Data from the Directorate of Primary Education reveals that a total of 640,000 candidates are participating in the scholarship examination this year. Among them, 550,000 are from government schools, while 90,000 come from private schools. The total number of scholarships available is 82,500, with 66,000 allocated for government school students and 16,500 for private school students.
Bobby Hajjaj mentioned that his visit aimed to observe the examination process. Reports from various centers across the nation indicate that students are taking the exams smoothly in a supportive environment, he noted. Additionally, he stated that district and upazila education officers have been instructed to ensure fair conditions at all examination centers.
In response to a question, he mentioned that the government plans to update the primary scholarship examination policy after consulting all stakeholders. He stated that both the scholarship amount and the number of beneficiaries will be reviewed, with an emphasis on ensuring maximum equity in the policy formulation.
Following his visit to Badshah Faisal Institute, Bobby Hajjaj also visited Bengali Medium High School Centre and Mohammadpur Government Primary School. Primary and Mass Education Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana and Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman were among those present.