The Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has issued an urgent directive instructing all educational institutions to refrain from administering any test or pre-selection examinations for the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam until further notice. The announcement, signed by Professor S. M. Kamal Uddin Haydar, Exam Controller of the Dhaka Board, was released on Sunday, November 9. According to the notice, regular classes for twelfth-grade students preparing for the 2026 HSC examination must continue without interruption. The board emphasized that the date for the selection test will be announced later through an official notification. Institutions have been urged to strictly adhere to this directive, as the matter is considered highly urgent. The decision aims to ensure uniform preparation and avoid confusion among students and educational institutions while the board finalizes further guidelines for the HSC examination framework.

The interim government of Bangladesh has approved the inclusion of recognized independent Ebtedayi madrasas under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme, contingent upon meeting four specific conditions. The directive, signed by Mir Tayefa Siddika, Director-7 at the Chief Adviser’s Office, was sent to the Ministry of Education on November 3.

As per the order, madrasas fulfilling all requirements under the 2018 policy on establishment, recognition, management, staffing, and salary structure will be eligible for MPO inclusion in the first phase, following verification through detailed district administration reports. In the next phase, other eligible institutions will gradually be added. Prior to final approval, the Finance Division’s consent is mandatory, and any existing grant-in-aid facilities must be discontinued after MPO enlistment.

This decision came amid ongoing demonstrations by Ebtedayi madrasa teachers demanding nationalization. Although the announcement marks progress, teachers from non-grant madrasas expressed dissatisfaction, vowing to continue protests until all Ebtedayi institutions—whether grant-based or not—are nationalized.

In a significant ruling, the High Court has directed the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) to allow private primary school students to participate in the national primary scholarship examination. The order was issued under the 2008 Primary Scholarship Examination Policy, following a writ petition challenging the government's decision that restricted eligibility to government school students only.

On November 3, the bench of Justice Md. Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Rezaul Karim declared the previous directive illegal. Earlier, on July 17, the DPE had issued a circular allowing only government school students to take the exam, prompting a legal challenge from 42 petitioners, including the director of Keraniganj Public Laboratory School, teachers, and guardians.

After a temporary suspension in September, the court has now made the rule absolute, ensuring equal opportunity for private school students. The ruling restores the earlier practice that was in place from 2005 to 2008, before being discontinued under new guidelines.

The DPE’s lawyer, Munta sir Uddin Ahmed, has announced plans to appeal the verdict. The 2025 scholarship exams are scheduled for December 21–24.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has announced that the form fill-up process for the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations will start on December 31, 2025. According to an official circular issued on Thursday, schools must publish the results of the selection or preparatory examinations by December 30 to ensure that eligible students can complete their SSC registration on time. The board emphasized that detailed instructions and the complete schedule for the form fill-up will be released soon on its official website. This move aims to maintain a smooth registration process and timely preparation for the 2026 SSC exams. Education authorities have also urged institutions to follow the official timetable strictly to avoid delays or complications in student registration.

The National University of Bangladesh has made a preliminary decision to reduce examination fees for its students, taking into account the financial challenges many are facing. The decision was confirmed through an official press release issued on Thursday at 11:30 AM by Acting Director of Public Relations, Md. Mostafizur Rahman. According to the statement, the announcement of the reduced fees will be made by November 15 after consultations with college principals and university policymakers. The press release further mentioned that the decision was taken during an emergency meeting on October 29, attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Proctor, department heads, and student representatives. Since many students have already registered online for the current examinations, the new fee structure will be applicable from the upcoming Honours Part-4, Pass Course Part-2, and future examinations.

The Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) has released the updated admission policy for MBBS and BDS programs for the 2025–26 academic session, introducing several changes to eligibility requirements. According to the new policy, candidates must achieve a combined minimum GPA of 8.50 in SSC and HSC examinations to apply for admission to medical or dental colleges. However, candidates from underprivileged communities, including tribal groups and non-tribal applicants from hilly districts, will be eligible with a minimum combined GPA of 8.00. In all cases, applicants must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in HSC, with at least a GPA of 3.50 in Biology.

For Bangladeshi candidates, a GPA below 4.00 in either SSC or HSC will make them ineligible. The same GPA standards apply to foreign students seeking admission to government medical colleges, while those applying to private institutions need a minimum combined GPA of 7.00. Candidates who passed HSC in 2024 or 2025 and SSC in 2022 or later are eligible to apply. O-level and A-level students must obtain equivalency certificates from the Directorate General of Health Education (DGME). The updated policy aims to ensure academic quality and equal opportunity in medical and dental education.

The re-evaluation results of this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations are expected to be published on November 16, according to officials of the Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education. The results follow the rule that mandates publication within 30 days of the re-evaluation application deadline. The application process for re-evaluation—also known as the “script challenge”—was conducted online only this year, starting on October 17 and ending on October 23. Unlike previous years, no applications were accepted via SMS or through any education offices. The original HSC and equivalent results were released on October 16, showing a pass rate of 58.83%, significantly lower than last year’s 77.78%. A total of 69,097 students achieved GPA-5 this year, while 12,51,111 candidates participated under 11 education boards across the country.

China and Pakistan have signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance educational cooperation and academic collaboration. The agreement was formalized between the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) and Xinjiang University at a ceremony held in Urumqi, China. According to PIDE’s statement, both universities agreed to expand joint research initiatives, faculty and student exchange programs, and capacity-building projects. The discussions particularly emphasized strengthening cooperation within the frameworks of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Representing Pakistan, PIDE Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Javed highlighted that the MoU marks an important milestone in reinforcing educational and research ties between the two nations. The partnership is expected to open new avenues for innovation, cross-cultural understanding, and sustainable development in the region, reflecting the growing strategic and academic ties between China and Pakistan.

To make up for instructional days lost during the recent teacher movement, MPO-listed teachers in Bangladesh have decided to hold classes on Saturdays until the upcoming annual examinations. Principal Delawar Hossain Azizi, president of the MPO-listed Education Nationalization Aspirants’ Alliance and general secretary of the Bangladesh Madrasah Teachers and Employees Forum, confirmed the decision. Teachers had been unable to attend classrooms for eight days due to the movement. The initiative aims to ensure students complete the full syllabus on time. The government recently announced a 15 percent increase in house rent allowance for MPO-listed teachers working in private institutions, fulfilling a key demand of the teachers’ movement. With the official notification received, teachers will now resume classes from tomorrow, compensating for the lost days and withdrawing their movement.

BNP central leader and former state minister Advocate M Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu has accused the Awami League government of systematically destroying Bangladesh’s education system during its 15 and a half years in power. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled “Future Strategy for the Upcoming National Election” organized by the Zia Parishad Natore District branch, Dulu said that during BNP’s tenure, the party established a corruption-free education system to create a proud, educated generation. He claimed that under Awami League rule, even students who didn’t study were shown as passing exams, undermining the sector’s integrity. Dulu further alleged that the ruling party appointed loyalists to key educational posts, promoting corruption and favoritism. He pledged that if BNP returns to power, it will restore honesty in education and ensure fair opportunities for teachers and students alike.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has warned students and guardians against enrolling in three fake foreign university branch campuses operating illegally in the country. In a press release issued on Thursday (October 16), the UGC identified the institutions as America World University, USA; Trinity University, USA; and Spiritual Institute of New York (State University of). The commission confirmed that neither the government nor the UGC has granted approval to these universities. The discovery came after Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited requested verification of certificates issued by these institutions. During the verification process, the UGC found evidence of unauthorized branch campuses operating in Bangladesh. The UGC also cautioned that several unapproved foreign universities, tutorial centers, and study centers across the country are illegally offering undergraduate to PhD degrees, which are entirely invalid under existing laws. Students are urged to verify institutional approval before admission.

The 2025 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination results reveal a steep decline in student performance across Bangladesh. Out of about 1.25 million candidates, more than 500,000 failed, bringing the national pass rate down to 58.83%—the lowest in the past ten years. The Dhaka Education Board led with a 64.62% pass rate, while Cumilla lagged behind with only 48.86%. Other boards scored between 50% and 62%. A total of 69,097 students secured GPA-5, but 202 institutions saw no students pass, a significant rise from 65 last year. Female students continued to outperform males, achieving a 63% pass rate compared to 55% for boys. The data reflect a concerning downward trend in educational outcomes, raising questions about teaching quality, exam standards, and post-pandemic recovery in the education sector.

The results of the 2025 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations have been published, revealing a dramatic drop in the overall pass rate across Bangladesh. According to data from 11 education boards, only 58.83 percent of students passed this year, marking an alarming decline of 18.95 percentage points compared to last year’s results. A total of 1,251,111 students participated in the examinations under all boards. The results were officially released at 10:00 a.m. on October 16, 2025, through education board websites, exam centers, institutions, and SMS services. Education analysts and teachers expressed concern over the steep fall, pointing to possible reasons such as syllabus changes, post-pandemic academic disruptions, and stricter evaluation standards. Authorities have promised to analyze the situation and take measures to improve the pass rate in the coming years.

Teachers in MPO-listed schools and colleges across Dhaka have launched an indefinite strike demanding a 20% increase in house rent and medical allowances along with the implementation of a universal transfer policy. The protest, which started after teachers spent the night at the Central Shaheed Minar, also opposes police obstruction during their programs in the capital. While some institutions have suspended classes, others continue lessons to avoid disrupting students’ education, with teachers expressing solidarity with the movement. Earlier, tensions escalated near the National Press Club on October 12 during a sit-in when police used sound grenades and clashed with teachers. The protesting teachers have vowed to continue their movement until all demands are met, calling the government’s announced allowance hikes “insufficient and unrealistic.”

Chittagong University (CU) has announced the tentative dates for its first-year undergraduate (honors) admission tests for the 2025–2026 academic year. The decision was made during the first meeting of the Admission Process Management Committee, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yahia Akhter on October 12. Online applications will open on December 1 and continue until December 15. Tests for units ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’ will be held at CU, Dhaka University, and Rajshahi University centers, while sub-units B1, B2, and D1 exams will be conducted exclusively at CU. Tentative exam dates include January 2 for ‘A’ unit, January 3 for ‘B’ unit, January 9 for ‘C’ unit, and January 10 for ‘D’ unit. Detailed information will be available on the university website.