We are left surprised by the decision to reintroduce admission tests for schools - a decision that has also, understandably, raised alarm among educators and parents alike.
Experts have rightly voiced concerns that this move is hasty and without proper thought. At a time when Bangladesh’s education system is struggling with quality, equity, and accessibility, reverting to competitive entry exams for children risks compounding the very problems we need to solve.
Primary and secondary education, especially for a nation such as ours, should be about inclusion, not exclusion. Admission tests have historically privileged those with access to additional resources such as private tutoring, leaving behind children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Instead of leveling the playing field, they reinforce inequality - the last thing our nation needs.
Experts have warned that such tests will not improve learning outcomes and will merely sort students into categories based on rote memorization, rather than genuine ability or potential.
There are genuine issues that demand urgent attention such as overcrowded classrooms, undertrained teachers, and outdated curricula. Introducing admission tests does nothing to address these. If anything, it risks shifting focus away from systemic reform toward a narrow obsession with rankings and scores.
We expect better from the government, and if it is serious about improving education, it must invest in teacher training, curriculum modernization, and classroom infrastructure, with assessments that measure critical thinking and creativity, not just rote learning.
Above all, there must be recognition that quality education for all must be a right and not a privilege to be rationed through entrance exams. We need policies that expand opportunity and raise standards, not ones that perpetuate inequality.
The government must listen to the experts and rethink this decision. We need them to commit to reforms that deliver real results. Education ought to be the foundation of our nation’s prosperity and equity, and going back to the old ways is not the solution.
