Education Minister Hints at Ending School Admission Lottery by 2027

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon has signaled a potential departure from the controversial lottery-based school admission system, labeling it "unreasonable" during a parliamentary session on Sunday.

The issue was raised by Comilla-4 (Debidwar) MP Hasnat Abdullah during the 13th National Parliament session, presided over by Speaker Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. Abdullah criticized the current system, arguing that replacing merit-based entry with a lottery has compromised the quality of primary education and, consequently, the caliber of students reaching universities.

"We are seeing a decline in institutional quality," Abdullah stated. "Those who can afford it opt for English medium schools, while others are left with a fragmented system. Can we truly move forward with such an inclusive education system when merit is sidelined?"

In response, the Education Minister acknowledged the complications, particularly within urban centers like Dhaka. While the lottery was introduced by the previous administration to manage high demand, Milon expressed personal skepticism regarding its effectiveness.

"I do not think the lottery system is reasonable at all," the Minister told the House. He announced that the government intends to hold seminars and symposiums with stakeholders, including guardians and lawmakers, to gather public opinion. "Based on these discussions, we will reconsider the admission process for January 2027."

Milon noted that while rural areas face fewer hurdles due to lower competition, the urban admission crisis requires a formal, parliamentary discussion to ensure a sustainable solution.