The Ministry of Education has revoked its decision to allocate a five percent quota in government secondary schools for family members of those injured or killed during the July Uprising and has instead instructed that one extra seat per class be reserved for such students.

The ministry's Secondary and Higher Education Division issued a new directive on Monday, signed by Rahima Akter, deputy secretary (Secondary-1).

This directive will be applicable only for the 2025 academic year.

The directive states that in government secondary schools, one additional seat per class will be reserved, beyond the allocated lottery-based admission seats, for family members of those injured or killed in the July uprising.

To claim this seat, applicants must submit verified copies of relevant documents or gazettes as proof and present the original documents at the time of admission. The admission process must ensure proper verification of gazettes issued by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs for the martyrs of the uprising.

If no eligible students from affected families apply, the seat will be filled from the merit list. Under no circumstances should the seat remain vacant, said the directive.

Earlier, on March 2, the education ministry had issued an order referencing the February 20 directive stating that 5 percent of seats in government secondary schools would be reserved for family members of those injured or killed in the July uprising, along with the children of freedom fighters.