The primary scholarship examination, postponed last year over legal complications, will be held in the first week of April ahead of Eid ul-Azha.
Students from private schools and kindergartens will join the competition.
Government school students will receive 80 percent of the scholarships, while private and kindergarten students will get 20 percent.
Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon announced this at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Wednesday, on the occasion of publishing the results of the Junior, Dakhil and Ebtedayee scholarship examinations.
According to the minister, until last year, the primary scholarship exam was designated only for students of government primary schools.
As private or kindergarten students were not included, the matter went to court.
In light of court directives and the constitutional principle of equal rights, the government has reviewed its decision by including kindergartens and private schools in the scholarship competition.
Under the scheme, the “talent pool” scholarship will provide a one-time payment of Tk 225 and a monthly stipend of Tk 300 to eligible students.
The general scholarship will provide a one-time payment of Tk 225 and a monthly stipend of Tk 225.
The minister said a total of 82,500 students will be selected for primary scholarships.
Of them, 33,000 will receive talent pool scholarships and 49,500 general scholarships.
Of the general scholarships, 41,250 students will be selected from government schools on a Union and Ward basis, while the remaining 8,250 students will be selected from private schools on an Upazila basis.
“Five scholarships will be allocated per Union and Ward, two for boys and three for girls, with the remaining one awarded on merit. This is our current plan,” the minister said.