The government has decided to introduce written admission tests for Classes II–IX at government secondary schools for the 2027 academic year, while students seeking admission to Class I will be selected through a digital lottery.
Under the new admission policy, applicants for Class I can list up to five schools in order of preference. The admission test will carry 50 marks for Classes II–V and 100 marks for Classes VI–IX.
The Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education issued the Government Secondary School Student Admission Policy-2027 on Tuesday.
According to the policy, applications, fee collection, result processing and publication will be conducted online for government secondary schools across the country.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) will conduct a centralised digital lottery to select students for Class I. For Classes II–IX, students will be admitted to vacant seats based on merit through written examinations.
Class I admission: Age limit set at 5–7 years
The policy states that, in line with the National Education Policy 2010, students should generally be at least six years old to enter Class I. However, applicants must be between five and seven years old as of January 1, 2027.
Students with special needs may receive an additional age relaxation of up to five years.
The academic year will run from January 1 to December 31, with a maximum of 55 students in each class section. Admissions will be offered to the entry-level class of each government secondary school and up to Class IX, subject to seat availability.
Admission test marks and duration
The admission test for Classes II–V will carry 50 marks, comprising 15 marks for Bangla, 15 for English and 20 for mathematics. The examination will last one hour.
For Classes VI–IX, the test will carry 100 marks, with 30 marks each for Bangla and English and 40 for mathematics. The examination will last two hours.
Questions must be based on National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) textbooks for the respective classes. The policy also directs authorities to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and security during question-paper preparation and moderation.
Authorities must prepare waiting lists alongside the lists of students selected through the written examinations. Each waiting list must contain as many candidates as there are vacant seats.
If a selected student fails to complete admission within the stipulated deadline, candidates will be admitted sequentially from the waiting list.
Application fees capped at Tk 250
The government has set the online application fee at a maximum of Tk 110 for Class I and Tk 250 for Classes II–IX under the new admission policy.
Admission fees, including session charges, must be determined in line with the Ministry of Education’s directives.
Before the Class I lottery, the software must be tested by another government-approved technical institution to verify its accuracy. The relevant certification must be preserved.
The list of lottery-selected students must be published on the respective school’s website and displayed on its notice board. No student outside the published list may be admitted.
40% of Dhaka school seats reserved for catchment areas
Government secondary schools in Dhaka city will reserve 40% of their seats for students from designated catchment areas, while the remaining 60% will remain open to all applicants.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) will determine the catchment areas for the schools and notify the relevant authorities.
The policy also reserves 10% of Class VI seats for students who have passed Class V at independent government primary schools.
Other reserved quotas include 5% for children of freedom fighters and martyred freedom fighters, 2% for students with special needs, 1% for children of officials and employees of the Ministry of Education, and another 1% for children of officials and employees of departments and agencies under the ministry.
In addition, 3% of seats will be reserved for siblings and 2% for twins.
If no eligible applicants are available under any reserved category, the vacant seats must be filled by general applicants in accordance with the policy. No seat can be left vacant.
Additional 5% seats for children of transferred officials
The government has introduced a provision to reserve an additional 5% of seats in each class section for the children of government officials and employees transferred to new workplaces.
Applicants must submit an application, along with the necessary supporting documents, to the admission committee chair within 12 months of the transfer order.
In Dhaka city, city corporation areas and divisional cities, admission to a government or private secondary school near the new workplace will be allowed if the transfer places the employee more than 10 kilometres from their previous workplace. In districts, upazilas and thanas, admission will be allowed to a school near the new workplace.
Additional seats will also be reserved at government secondary schools for the eligible children of their own teachers and employees. If the school does not offer the appropriate class, arrangements must be made to reserve a seat at a nearby suitable school.
