Private primary students can now sit for scholarship exams

The High Court has declared illegal the decision of the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) that restricted participation in primary scholarship examinations to students of government schools only.

At the same time, the court has directed the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Directorate of Primary Education to ensure that students from private schools are also allowed to take part in the examination under the 2008 Primary Scholarship Examination Policy.

The verdict was delivered on November 3 by a High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Rezaul Karim. The matter was confirmed to the media on November 4 by Barrister Muntasir Ahmed, the lawyer representing the petitioners.

According to the lawyer, the DPE had issued a circular on July 17 stating that only students from government institutions would be eligible to participate in the scholarship exam. Challenging this decision, a total of 42 petitioners, including Md Faruk Hossain, director of Keraniganj Public Laboratory School, as well as several teachers and guardians, filed a writ petition.

During the primary hearing on September 2, the High Court had issued an interim order suspending the circular. After the final hearing of the rule, the court on November 3 declared the rule absolute, allowing students from private schools to participate in the examination in line with the 2008 policy.

Notably, the 2025 government primary school scholarship examinations are scheduled to be held from December 21 to 24.