State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj has assured that there is no discrimination against students from private schools in the Primary Scholarship Examination, emphasising equal opportunities for both government and private school students.
The state minister made these statements on Friday morning during a visit to the Badshah Faisal Institute in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, to inspect the ongoing scholarship exam.
According to Bobby Hajjaj, the scholarship allocation is in proportion to the number of students in both sectors. “For every eight students in government schools, one is selected for the scholarship exam, while in private schools, one out of every five students gets the chance,” he explained.
“The ratio of students receiving scholarships from private schools is equally fair compared to their government school counterparts.”
This year, a total of 6,40,000 students are sitting for the exam- 5,50,000 from government schools and 90,000 from private schools.
Of the 82,500 scholarships available, 66,000 are designated for government school students, while 16,500 are for private school students.
The scholarship ratio is 8:1 for government schools and 5.5:1 for private schools.
During his visit, Boby Hajjaj expressed satisfaction with the overall exam process, stating that it is running smoothly across various centres nationwide.
“Reports from exam centres confirm that students are participating in the exam in a supportive and well-managed environment,” he noted. He also assured that district and upazila education officials have been instructed to ensure proper exam conditions for all students.
The state minister also highlighted that the education secretary and the director general of the Directorate of Primary Education are closely monitoring the examination process, maintaining regular communication with field officers, and receiving positive reports from multiple exam centres.
Responding to questions from the press, Boby Hajjaj revealed that the government plans to revise the Primary Scholarship Examination guidelines. “We will update the policy, considering feedback from all stakeholders, including journalists,” he said.
“The new guidelines will address the scholarship amount and the number of beneficiaries, ensuring maximum fairness and equity in the process.”
The State Minister further emphasised that the scholarship exam plays a vital role in motivating students and parents to engage with the curriculum.
“We do not want to eliminate any process that encourages interest in education. The scholarship exam, which was delayed under the interim government, has been reinstated to continue this important initiative,” he explained.
Following the inspection, Boby Hajjaj visited the Bengali Medium High School centre and the Mohammadpur Government Primary School.
He was accompanied by Ministry Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman and other senior officials.
