Over 13 lakh seats to remain vacant in collage this year

In the upcoming academic year, the online admission process for class XI will be conducted as before, based on merit and students' preference order. However, due to a significant decline in the pass rate in the 2026 SSC and equivalent examinations, a large number of seats in colleges and madrasas are likely to remain vacant this year. Even if all successful students are admitted, approximately 13.61 lakh seats will remain vacant.

During a press conference at the Ministry of Education on Monday, August 10, following the publication of the SSC and equivalent results, Dhaka Education Board Chairman Professor Syed Akhtaruzzaman shared various information regarding class XI admissions.

He said the class XI admission process will remain as before. There will be no lottery, nor will there be any admission tests. Seats will be allocated based on students' GPA and their preference order.

For the past few years, students have been admitted to class XI based on SSC and equivalent examination results. Aspiring students are required to select a minimum of five and a maximum of ten colleges or equivalent institutions in order of preference, paying the prescribed fee. Later, considering the student's results, applicable quotas and preference order, they are nominated for admission to an institution.

This method is used for admissions to colleges and madrasas. However, institutions under the technical education board conduct admissions through a separate process. While a few institutions like Dhaka's Notre Dame College have their own admission procedures, almost all colleges and madrasas across the country admit students to class XI through the central online system.

The Dhaka Education Board centrally manages the online admission process with technical assistance from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Although there was discussion after the change of government about whether admission tests would be reintroduced for class XI, the previous method has been retained this year.

The Dhaka Education Board chairman said there are approximately 25 lakh seats available for admission to class XI in colleges and madrasas across the country. In 2025, 58.7 percent of these seats were filled, leaving 41.3 percent vacant. With the pass rate in the SSC and equivalent examinations falling further this year, the number of vacant seats is expected to increase further.

This year, a total of 18,29,485 students appeared for the SSC and equivalent examinations under 11 education boards. Of these, 11,38,877 passed, meaning nearly seven lakh students failed.

As a result, even if all successful students from all education boards, including the technical board, are admitted to class XI, approximately 13.61 lakh seats will remain vacant. This means the number of seats will far exceed the number of students for class XI admissions this year.