Don't burden children with entrance exam

The government’s decision to reintroduce written admission tests for Class 1 in 2027 has rightly sparked concern. Although the education minister assured parents that the new admission process would be simple and would not encourage coaching or private tutoring, coaching centres across Dhaka have already started offering special preparation courses for young children seeking admission to reputed schools. This will surely put unnecessary pressure on children while creating additional financial burden for their parents.

The current lottery-based admission system was introduced in 2011 to reduce corruption and favouritism in school enrolments and curb the growing dependence on coaching centres. However, the government’s decision to scrap it has once again turned school admission into a competitive race. Coaching centres are charging parents hefty amounts as entry fee, on top of monthly fees, while many parents are also hiring private tutors. As a result, children are being pushed into exam preparation even before beginning formal schooling. Should they have to face this pressure at such a young age?

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Both admission tests and the lottery system have their limitations. While the lottery system leaves admission to chance, written tests can increase inequality as families that can afford coaching and private tutors have better chances for their children to get into their coveted schools. As experts have pointed out, the real problem is the uneven quality of schools. A small number of institutions continue to enjoy a strong reputation, while many others lack qualified teachers, adequate infrastructure, and a good learning environment. As long as this gap remains, parents will continue to compete for a limited number of seats, regardless of the admission system. Experts have also warned that subjecting young children to entrance exams can cause unnecessary stress instead of healthy learning.

Therefore, we urge the government to carefully consider all the relevant factors before finalising the new policy. Instead of merely replacing one admission system with another, it should pursue more meaningful reforms to address the real causes behind the problem. These reforms must be based on broad consultation with educationists, psychologists, parents and school authorities. Most importantly, the government must improve the quality of neighbourhood schools by ensuring recruitment of qualified teachers, better infrastructure, and a good learning environment. It should work towards a catchment area system so children can attend schools close to their homes. Every child should have access to quality education without facing the pressure of entrance exams.