DHAKA, Oct 07, 2025 (BSS) - The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education in Bangladesh has published the revised policy for the Junior Scholarship Examination 2025 for Class VIII students.

According to the new policy, Class VIII students of recognized secondary schools will be able to participate in this examination based on the prescribed quota and merit, said a press release on Sunday.

Examination Controller of the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, Dhaka, Professor SM Kamal Uddin Haider, also the Member Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Junior Scholarship Examination 2025, signed the release.

It said a minimum of 20 percent and a maximum of 40 percent of Class VIII students studying in approved secondary or lower secondary level educational institutions will be able to sit for the scholarship examination.

"The students will be considered for selection based on Class VII cumulative results. If necessary, the National Steering Committee can re-determine the participation rate," the policy stated.

In the examination of total 400 marks - Bangla, English, and Mathematics will cover 100 marks each, while Science and Bangladesh & Global Studies (BGS) will cover 50 marks each, it also mentioned.

Each examination will be three hours long. Students with special needs will get an additional 30 minutes. The question paper will be prepared according to the National Curriculum and Textbook Board's Class VIII textbook.

The ministry also said the scholarships will be given to students in two categories - talent pool and general. The board fee has been fixed at Taka 400 per examinee and the center fee is Taka 200.

Fifty percent of all types of scholarships will be reserved for boys, while 50 percent for girls. However, if no eligible candidates are found in the prescribed quota, the boys' scholarships can be filled by girl students and the girls' scholarships can be filled by boy students.

"If a student has taken admission into Class VIII in another school after receiving a transfer certificate (TC) from one school, he or she can be allowed to participate in the Junior Scholarship Examination. In that case, the name of the student will be included in the list considering the merit list of the student in the previous educational institution," the exam policy added.

However, if any unauthorized student participates in the examination and any proven complaint is found, departmental action will be taken against the Headmaster of the concerned school.

At the same time, the candidature or result of that student will also be cancelled, the scholarship policy mentioned.