The government is set to move away from the lottery-based school admission system, returning to merit-based testing by 2027. Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon announced the decision during a press conference at the Ministry of Education on Monday afternoon. He clarified that while the current system remains for the immediate cycle, the lottery will be officially abolished starting from the 2027 academic year.
The lottery system has been a subject of intense debate among parents and educators. Originally introduced in 2011 for first-grade admissions in government schools, it was extended to private institutions the following year.
The system saw a major expansion in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government replaced all admission tests (from grades 2 to 9) with the lottery to maintain social distancing. While intended as a temporary health measure, the practice continued for several years.
With this new directive, the Ministry aims to restore a competitive, test-based selection process to ensure academic standards are prioritized across secondary education.
