The Ministry of Education has issued a comprehensive policy to ensure financial transparency and accountability in educational institutions, banning the collection of re-admission fees from students promoted to the next class.
The Secondary and Higher Education Division issued the ‘Financial Transparency and Accountability Policy for Educational Institutions’ on Wednesday, aiming to curb financial irregularities, ensure transparency, and strengthen accountability. The policy clearly states that no institution can collect re-admission fees from any currently enrolled student under any circumstances.
Earlier, a circular issued on 11 November 2025 also instructed institutions not to charge admission fees from students moving to the next class.
However, as many institutions continued the practice, Bangladesh Legal and Rights Foundation filed a writ on 25 January in the public interest.
Following this, the ministry finalised the policy and published it in a gazette notification on 9 February, signed by Secondary and Higher Education Secretary Rehana Parveen.
Clause 5(nga) of the policy reiterates that re-admission fees are completely prohibited. However, private institutions—including schools, school and colleges, higher secondary colleges, and the higher secondary level of degree colleges—may collect tuition fees as per the Tuition Fee Policy 2024.
Institutions are not allowed to create any additional fee heads beyond the approved structure.
The policy also requires private institutions to follow existing government financial rules in all income and expenditure. Institutional accounts must be operated jointly by the managing committee chairman and the head of the institution, while the head must preserve detailed financial records.
To strengthen monitoring, Clause 12 provides for multiple subcommittees for financial management. Under Clause 12(4), the institution head must form an annual subcommittee of three senior teachers to oversee the collection of tuition and session charges. All fees must be collected under the supervision of this committee, and monthly reports must be submitted to the managing committee.
The policy further states that any financial irregularity or corruption involving the managing committee will make the responsible individuals accountable under existing laws. The chairman and the institution head will bear joint responsibility for such irregularities.
Regarding income management, institutions must open accounts in scheduled banks, with priority given to state-owned banks. All student fees, donations, grants, and income from assets must be received through designated bank accounts, the Sonali Payment Gateway (SPG), or other government bank payment gateways. Cash may be accepted only in emergencies or during natural disasters with ministry approval, and the amount must be deposited in the bank within two working days.
Any addition, reduction, or change in income or expenditure heads will require prior approval from the ministry. Funds collected for education boards or universities must also be deposited in the designated accounts following proper procedures.
