Government Abolishes Lottery System for School Admissions, Considers Exam-Based Entry The government has canceled the lottery system for admissions to all public and private schools and is now considering a system where students are selected through exams. This decision has sparked widespread discussion within the education sector, with many believing it will curb corruption, nepotism, and the coaching industry. A survey conducted by the digital education publication Daily Shiksha Dotcom revealed that 72% of respondents think the move will reduce these issues, while 26% disagree. The survey, which ran from March 19 to 20, collected responses from 3,530 internet users. Of these, 2,549 voted in favor of the policy change, and 932 voted against it. A further 49 participants did not provide any comments. The survey asked whether respondents believed abolishing the lottery system would eliminate corruption, nepotism, and the coaching business. Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haq stated that the lottery system was abolished as planned and emphasized that students will now be admitted through a more standardized exam-based process. The ministry also issued a notice suspending two policy documents related to the lottery system. According to the notice, the lottery method will be discontinued starting from the 2027 academic year for all public and private secondary schools, covering students from the first to ninth grade. The two policy frameworks related to the lottery system will also be suspended. The decision has been met with mixed reactions, with critics arguing that the exam-based system could introduce new challenges, such as unequal access to resources for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.#government #education_minister_dr_an_m_ehsanul_haq #daily_shiksha_dotcom #private_coaching_institutions #secondary_schools
