The Ministry of Education has decided to end the lottery system for school admissions. The change will apply from the 2027 academic year. It will cover Class 1 to Class 9 in government and private secondary schools.
The Secondary and Higher Education Division issued the order on Monday night, March 16. The order confirmed that the current lottery system will be discontinued. A new admission process will be introduced after discussions with stakeholders.
Officials said the future admission method has not yet been finalised. The ministry plans to develop the process based on feedback from education experts and institutions.
The order also cancelled two earlier admission policies issued in November 2025. These policies guided admissions in government and private secondary schools. The cancellation takes effect immediately following the new directive.
In recent years, schools have used digital lottery software instead of admission tests. The system was first applied only to Class 1 admissions. Later, it expanded to other classes.
The government introduced the wider lottery system during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. The step aimed to avoid large gatherings and reduce health risks. Since then, the system has continued for admissions up to Class 9.
This year, schools again selected students through the lottery system. The process is applied to both government and private secondary schools nationwide.
The ministry did not explain why it decided to end the system. However, the order confirmed that a replacement system is under review.
The Education Ministry is expected to announce the new admission process before the 2027 academic year begins.
For the Latest Updates on the School Admission, follow Education News on our website