Future Brightens for Young Scholars: Primary Scholarship Payments Set to Double
Over 79,000 primary school students have received scholarships this year, with results announced today. A total of 79,246 bright young minds were awarded, including 32,965 Talent Pool and 46,281 general scholarships. The original target of 82,500 was not fully met. Scholarships provide financial aid from Grade 6 through Grade 8, potentially extending to Grade 10 via Junior Scholarships. Primary authorities manage the exam; secondary officials handle payments as recipients are often in high school.
Currently, Talent Pool scholarship students receive a one-time grant of 225 Taka and a monthly stipend of 300 Taka. General scholarship recipients get 225 Taka for both the one-time grant and monthly stipend. These are the amounts for students awarded scholarships this year.
However, a significant increase in scholarship amounts is coming. Starting with the 2026 Primary Scholarship Examination, payments will be much higher. This means students who pass the exam held at the end of this year will be the first to receive the new, larger stipends.
Shahina Ferdousi, Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education, announced these proposed changes. The total 82,500 scholarships remain. For Talent Pool recipients, grants double to 450 Taka, and monthly stipends rise to 600 Taka. General scholarship recipients will also see their one-time grant and monthly stipend increase to 450 Taka each.
Talent Pool scholarships are awarded based on performance within specific upazilas or thanas. General scholarships are distributed at the union and ward level, with five scholarships per area: two for boys, two for girls, and one based purely on merit.
The Primary Scholarship Examination faced a challenging journey. Paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and reinstated in late 2022, it encountered initial errors and legal delays. The examination was finally conducted in April this year, with today’s announcement marking the conclusion of a complex process.
