The government has withdrawn its decision to collect separate examination fees from students of government primary schools following criticism from education stakeholders.
The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has decided that students in Classes Three to Five will not have to pay examination fees. The move is intended to uphold the principle of free primary education and reduce financial pressure on parents.
Confirming the decision, Mahdi Amin, Adviser on Education and Primary & Mass Education to Prime Minister Tarek Rahman, said the government’s policy is not to charge examination fees from students in government primary schools. He added that Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque would be informed of the matter promptly.
Mahdi Amin said the government is taking several steps to support students and their families. According to him, a decision has already been made to provide free uniforms to students following instructions from the Prime Minister.
He also said mid-day meal programmes are already operating in many schools. The government plans to expand these programmes across the country in phases. In addition, several other student-friendly initiatives are being implemented.
Also Read: Primary Scholarship Result 2026 Likely Within Seven Working Days
He noted that reducing family spending on education remains one of the government’s key priorities. As part of that effort, the government is giving special importance to ensuring that students and their guardians do not face additional financial burdens.
The ministry had earlier decided to collect examination fees because of insufficient government funding. Under that plan, third-grade students would have paid Tk 30, fourth-grade students Tk 40, and fifth-grade students Tk 50.
Last Saturday, Primary and Mass Education Secretary Md Sakhawat Hossain said at an event in Dhaka that budget-related complications had made it difficult for the government to cover examination costs. He said examinations still needed to be held and funding was required for that purpose.
The secretary also said that once future budget allocations become available, the problem would be resolved and students would not have to pay examination fees. He added that verbal instructions had been given regarding fee collection.
However, the decision faced questions from education stakeholders, who argued that primary education in Bangladesh is compulsory and free of charge.
With the latest policy change, students of government primary schools will continue to sit for examinations without paying separate fees, while the government moves ahead with other education support programmes.
