The Movement for Human Rights and Good Governance Foundation has filed a writ petition challenging the government’s decision to introduce admission tests at educational institutions nationwide in 2027.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Minhaj Uddin Ahmed, filed the petition on Wednesday.
The Education Secretary, Secretary of Primary and Mass Education, Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), and a DSHE deputy secretary have been named respondents.
Petitioner’s lawyer Zahid Talukdar said the government had introduced a digital lottery system in 2021 for admission to Classes I-IX at government schools across the country, replacing admission tests.
After the BNP government came to power, however, it scrapped the lottery system and decided to reintroduce admission tests, he said.
Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon announced the decision at a press conference on March 16. The ministry issued a notification the same day cancelling the lottery system. A subsequent revised notification said admission tests would be held for Classes II-IX, while Class I admission would continue through a lottery.
lawyer Zahid Talukdar said the decision had sparked widespread debate, with educationists warning that reinstating admission tests could fuel the coaching business and put undue pressure on young students.
He said the decision was taken without adequate research, data or assessment and without consulting relevant stakeholders.
“School admission tests will deepen social inequality. Children from low-income families cannot afford coaching or private tutors and will therefore fall behind,” he said.
The lawyer also warned that the move could increase corruption, nepotism and discrimination.
“We do not want young children to grow up under the burden of admission tests every year,” he said, adding that the writ seeks to scrap admission tests at schools.
Zahid said the writ petition may be heard by a High Court bench comprising Justice SM Moniruzzaman and Justice SM Iftekhar Uddin Mahmud next week.