The Bangladesh Kindergarten Association (BKA) has demanded the cancellation of the circular issued by the Directorate of Primary Education on July 17 regarding the primary scholarship examination for fifth-grade students. BKA has also called for a new circular to be issued by July 29, allowing private educational institutions to participate in the scholarship exam.
If their demands are not met, they claimed, a nationwide human chain protest has been announced for July 30.
The announcement was made during a press conference organised by BKA at the National Press Club in the capital on Wednesday.
At the event, speakers termed the circular issued by the Directorate of Primary Education for the “Primary Scholarship Examination 2025” as “discriminatory” and demanded action against the officials involved.
The organisation’s General Secretary, Md Rezaul Haq, said, “The notification stating that students from private institutions cannot participate in the Primary Scholarship Exam must be canceled by July 29. At the same time, a new notification must be issued, allowing all educational institutions across the country to take part in the exam.”
He further added, “Currently, around 50,000 kindergarten and equivalent private educational institutions are operating in the country, with over one crore students enrolled. If students from private institutions are barred from the scholarship exam, it would be a grave injustice to this large number of students.”
Speakers alleged that since private institution students perform better than those in government primary schools, there is a deliberate attempt to prevent them from participating in the scholarship exam.
They stated, “Since 2009, in the Primary Education Completion (PEC) exams, kindergarten students have consistently outperformed government primary school students. Even in the 2022 scholarship exam, private institution students performed significantly better than their government school counterparts.”
The speakers also pointed out, “The number of students in government primary schools and private institutions is nearly equal. The government spends around Tk 32,000 crore annually on government primary schools, including stipends and mid-day meals, whereas private institutions receive no government funding. So, what is the problem in allowing these students to participate in a merit-based exam?”
They further emphasised that scholarships are not charity but a recognition of merit, and all students in the country have the right to participate in such merit-based exams.
Also present at the event were Bangladesh Kindergarten Association President Iskandar Ali Howlader, along with Nuruzzaman Kayes, Lion Tajul Islam Nazrul, Md. Hasan Ali, and other leaders of the organization.