The Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has issued new directives regarding this year’s Junior Scholarship Examination. According to the instructions, students of class eight must complete registration online through the eSIF form, and schools have been directed not to charge more than Tk 206 as registration fees.
The notice, signed by Dr. Md Masud Rana Khan, Inspector of Schools at the Dhaka Board, was released on Saturday. It states that students who passed the annual examination of class seven in 2024 and who were registered under the board in class six in 2023 will be eligible to enroll in class eight in 2025 and complete their registration. Under the policy, students must be at least 11 years old and no older than 17 years as of January 1 of the exam year, though the maximum age is extended to 22 years for students with special needs.
The notification further explains that, in line with the Intermediate and Secondary Education Ordinance of 1961 and subsequent ministry directives, only students studying at institutions approved by the board will be allowed to register under the name of their respective institutions. Students from schools without such approval must register through the nearest authorized lower secondary or secondary institution. Unauthorized institutions will not be permitted to register students under their own name.
The board outlined the online registration procedure in detail. Schools must log in through the Dhaka Board’s website using EIIN and password, access the eSIF dashboard, enter the required student information, and generate a payment slip through Sonali Seba. The slip must not be photocopied, and payments must be cleared within 24 hours for the registration process to continue. Once cleared, institutions can complete eSIF forms within the allotted timeframe and update any missing student entries before final submission.
Each institution is required to form a three-member registration committee comprising teachers to oversee the process. Before final submission, the committee must cross-check all details with admission forms and birth certificates kept at the school. Students cannot be involved in the registration process under any circumstances. The final hardcopy list must be preserved at the institution, and both the head of the institution and committee members will be jointly responsible for any errors. Registration and other fees may not exceed Tk 206, while late fees may not exceed Tk 256.
The directive also specifies that institutions must maintain up-to-date recognition. If unrecognized institutions attempt online registration, necessary measures will be taken against them. For newly approved lower secondary schools, those yet to complete eSIF under their own institution must first obtain an EIIN certificate from Banbeis, deposit Tk 1,500 through Sonali Seba, and then collect login credentials through the school branch of Sonali Bank. Data entry and verification must be done by school authorities, and any failure to complete registration within the deadline will make the institution head liable for the consequences faced by students.
Additionally, schools must record whether a student has special needs and attach a valid certificate from the relevant authority as proof. The final signed hardcopy of the registered student list must be preserved at the institution for future reference.
