Are there free public elementary schools in Bangladesh?

As someone considering relocation to Bangladesh for work and planning to bring my young children, I’m concerned about education accessibility. Given our limited budget, I need clarification on whether the government provides free public elementary education. Specifically, I want to know if tuition fees are waived for public primary schools (grades 1–5), and if there are any associated costs like uniforms, textbooks, or exam fees that might still apply. Additionally, since my children don’t speak Bengali fluently, it would be helpful to understand if public schools offer any language support or if instruction is solely in Bengali. Are there any catchments or residency requirements that might limit enrollment? I’m particularly interested in Dhaka and Chittagong but would appreciate insights for rural areas too. Finally, should we expect overcrowding or resource constraints in public schools that affect learning quality?

Yes, tuition at public elementary schools in Bangladesh is free. The government provides free education at the primary level (typically grades 1-5, covering children aged approximately 6-10 years) through its public school system.

Key details about this free provision:

1. Tuition-Free: No tuition fees are charged for attending government primary schools. This is mandated by law, including the Compulsory Primary Education Act (1990) and reiterated in subsequent policies like the National Education Policy (2010).
2. Government Policy & Initiatives: Free primary education is a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s education strategy, aligned with global commitments like the Education For All (EFA) goals and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). The government actively promotes access, especially for marginalized groups.
3. Public School System: Free tuition is available across the network of public primary schools directly administered and funded by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) for the post-primary transition period.
4. Scope: This free tuition applies to the entire primary cycle. While the formal primary level ends at grade 5, efforts are ongoing to extend free tuition into junior secondary grades (6-8).
5. "Free" in Practice – Ancillary Costs: While tuition is free, families often still incur costs associated with schooling:
   • Uniforms: Typically required and purchased by families.
   • Books & Supplies: Costs for textbooks, exercise books, stationery (pens, pencils, etc.) are usually borne by parents, though sometimes subsidized or provided through NGO support.
   • School Supplies: Costs for items like bags, lunch boxes, etc.
   • Informal Fees: While officially prohibited, unofficial costs like "admission fees," "development fees," or required donations sometimes occur, though the government works to minimize this.
   • Transportation: Costs to and from school, especially in rural areas where schools may not be within walking distance.
   • Private Tutoring: Many families incur significant costs for private tutoring, recognizing potential gaps in classroom quality.
6. Challenges & Quality: Despite free tuition, challenges persist:
   • Infrastructure: Many public schools, particularly in rural areas, suffer from poor physical conditions (crumbling buildings, lack of sanitation/water).
   • Teacher Quality & Shortages: Issues include teacher absenteeism, inadequate training, and sometimes insufficient teacher numbers, impacting learning outcomes.
   • Learning Outcomes: Student achievement levels in public primary schools, as measured by national assessments, often lag behind desired benchmarks.
   • Access Gaps: While access has improved significant disparities remain, especially for children from extremely poor households, remote rural areas, ethnic minorities, and children with disabilities.
7. Enforcement & Expansion: The government continuously works to enforce the free tuition mandate, eliminate illegal fees, improve school infrastructure, train teachers, and expand access to reach all eligible children, including through programs stipends for girls.