Education ministry considering relaxing degree requirement for governing body presidents

Education Ministry is considering easing the current requirement of having at least a bachelor’s degree to serve as president of governing bodies and managing committees of private educational institutions.

Officials said discussions are also underway on whether the educational qualification requirement should be removed altogether.

The issue was raised at a meeting at the Secretariat today, attended by Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and chairpersons of all education boards.

No final decision has been made yet.

Sources present at the meeting said the matter will be finalised after consultations with the prime minister, with the ministry expected to issue directions within a couple of days.

Previously, there was no educational qualification requirement for becoming the president of the governing body of a private educational institution.

In May 2024, regulations were amended to require at least an HSC or equivalent qualification.

Later, in August 2025, the criteria were tightened further, making a postgraduate degree or a four‑year bachelor’s degree mandatory for governing body presidents, while managing committee presidents required a bachelor’s degree.