Govt clarifies stance on primary school scholarship examination

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has issued a statement today (2 August) in response to remarks made during a recent press conference organised by the Bangladesh Kindergarten Unity Council regarding the Government Primary School Scholarship Examination.

The ministry clarified that the scholarship examination is exclusively designed for students of class five enrolled in government primary schools, as part of broader initiatives to enhance the quality of education in these institutions.

According to national education surveys, the majority of students in government primary schools come from low-income families.

In contrast, most students attending kindergartens belong to relatively affluent households.

The Government Primary School Scholarship Examination serves as a financial incentive to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds continue their education.

It is noteworthy that kindergartens, under their respective associations, independently conduct the "Kindergarten Association Scholarship Examination" for students from class two to five.

However, students from government primary schools are not eligible to participate in these exams. This has led to demands from parents for the introduction of a dedicated scholarship examination within the government system.

The ministry emphasised that, under Article 17(a) of the Constitution of Bangladesh and the Compulsory Primary Education Act of 1990, the government is obligated to ensure free primary education for all children eligible to attend primary school.

In this context, no public-private partnership (PPP) policy is applicable. Parents who choose to enrol their children in private institutions do so voluntarily.

Therefore, the claim that the Government Primary School Scholarship Examination is discriminatory is unfounded. Free primary education in government schools is open to all children eligible for primary education in Bangladesh.