Primary scholarship now excludes students from 49,000 non-government schools; Kindergarten Association protests

After a 16-year hiatus, the government decided to reintroduce the Primary Scholarship Examination in December 2025. Only students from government primary schools and Primary Teachers' Training Institutes (PTIs) will be eligible, excluding non-government students for the first time.

The exclusion has drawn criticism from teachers, guardians, and educationists, who argue it violates principles of equal opportunity. Many have demanded inclusive access, stressing that merit should not be restricted to government school students alone.

The Bangladesh Kindergarten Association (BKA) contested the decision, filing a writ petition with the High Court. On 4 August, the court asked the government to show cause within four weeks. 

In addition, the BKA announced a nationwide protest on 21 August, including a planned siege of the Directorate of Primary Education in Dhaka to demand inclusion of kindergarten students in the exam.

"Blatant discrimination," say parents and educators

The decision has provoked outrage and dissatisfaction among guardians, who strongly feel that the decision is discriminatory. 

Fazlul Kabir Mintu, a parent from Chattogram, said his son, Shabahat Kabir Fawad, a fifth-grader at Central Public School in the VIP Tower area, is being unfairly excluded.

"We're deeply disappointed. This will be an example of blatant discrimination," He said. "The government cannot accommodate all students in public schools. That's why we pay from our own pockets. Are we now being punished for that choice?"

Others point to performance trends. Non-government schools, especially prominent institutions like Viqarunnisa Noon School or Ideal School and College, have historically produced a high share of scholarship awardees.

Ariful Hasan Chowdhury, Principal of Bangladesh Mahila Samiti School & College, said, "In our school alone, 70-80% of fifth-grade students used to receive scholarships. Excluding them is not just unfair, it undermines a generation of high-performing students."

Educationist and former Chattogram Education Board Secretary Professor Abdul Alim said, "A government that claims to champion equality cannot introduce a national exam that deepens educational disparity. Equal opportunity must be ensured, regardless of institutional type."

Merit once measured broadly, now narrowed by policy

The Primary Scholarship Exam was once a key benchmark for recognizing merit, regardless of school type or background. 

The exam was discontinued in 2009 with the introduction of the Primary Education Completion Examination (PECE), which then became the basis for awarding scholarships.

Now, as PECE is scaled back under recent reforms, the standalone scholarship exam is being reinstated, but with significant changes to its eligibility criteria.

A DPE circular issued on 17 July confirmed that the exam, scheduled between 21–24 December, will be mandatory for government school students. 

Nearly 49,000 non-government institutions, including around 6,134 private schools, kindergartens, NGO-run schools, madrasas, and other special institutions, will now be barred from participation.

Ministry clarifies decision

Limiting scholarships to government school students may serve as a strategy to retain existing enrollees and attract new ones, but it raises a broader question: Can strengthening public schools justify excluding others?

On 4 August, the ministry clarified that the exam is exclusively for Class Five students of government primary schools, aiming to enhance education quality and provide financial support to disadvantaged children.

It highlighted that, under Article 17(a) of the Constitution and the 1990 Compulsory Primary Education Act, the government is obligated to provide free primary education to all eligible children.

The ministry also stated that the scholarship exam is not discriminatory, noting that kindergartens already hold separate exams for Classes Two to Five, which exclude government school students. 

It emphasised that private school enrolment is voluntary and government education remains freely accessible, with no public-private partnership obligations influencing the policy.

When contacted, Mohammad Hossain Ali, Deputy Director (Law Cell) of the DPE's Policy and Operations Division, acknowledged the exclusion. 

However, he declined to comment on whether the decision was discriminatory, saying only the DPE Director General could address that concern. Repeated attempts to reach DG Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman went unanswered.

Kindergarten Association declares protest programme

Following the ministry's statement, the Bangladesh Kindergarten Association (BKA) announced a nationwide protest on 21 August, including a planned siege of the Directorate of Primary Education in Dhaka. 

Association leader Shamsul Abedin said the action aims to demand inclusion of millions of kindergarten students in the national exam.
With nearly half the nation's primary students excluded and growing discontent among parents and educators, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education now faces a critical test: uphold a policy many view as exclusionary, or adopt a more inclusive, transparent framework.