School admissions may cap quotas at 15pc

Quotas in admissions to government and private secondary schools may be capped at 14 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, under a proposed admission policy for the 2027 academic year.


Private schools will also have a 14 per cent quota under the proposed policy, with an additional one per cent reserved for children living in Lillah boardings. The provision is intended to help integrate these children into mainstream education by allowing them to enrol at nearby secondary schools.

40% Catchment Quota in Dhaka Government Schools

The existing catchment-area quota will remain in place to give students living with their families in Dhaka the opportunity to attend schools near their homes.

Under the draft, 40 per cent of seats at government secondary schools in Dhaka city will be reserved for students living within the schools’ designated catchment areas. The DSHE will determine the catchment areas and notify the relevant authorities and stakeholders.

For admission to Class VI, 10 per cent of the total seats will also be reserved for students who have completed Class V at independent government primary schools.

DSHE Director General Professor Dr Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel said that the draft had been prepared but remained subject to approval by the Ministry of Education.

“We have prepared the draft admission policy. The Ministry of Education will approve it. There will be a meeting at the ministry, and the policy may be changed if necessary based on the discussions.''

Explaining the quota provisions, he said the quotas for children of freedom fighters, students with special needs, twins and ministry officials’ children had been retained from the previous policy.

The sibling quota, however, has been increased to three per cent, he said.

“There have been many writ petitions and legal complications over this issue. Considering all aspects, we have kept a three per cent sibling quota this time. This will increase opportunities for brothers and sisters to study at the same institution and is expected to reduce inconvenience and security concerns for parents.''