The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education have collaborated to secure free basic education up to grade eight, affirming their commitment during an inter-ministerial meeting on Sunday. Building on the National Education Policy 2010, both ministries aim to extend the provision of free education beyond the fifth grade, which has already been implemented by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, with government stipends supporting students. Despite this, many parents still face expenses in private educational institutions for grades six through eight, with 696 government primary schools offering unpaid classes up to the eighth grade. In line with the government's political pledge led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, both ministries will work together to expand free basic education from primary to lower-secondary levels. Addressing the challenges of rising education costs and increased student dropout rates, the ministries plan to provide free or low-cost education up to the lower secondary level. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education will extend its free education initiatives to cover grades six through eight, while the Ministry of Education will focus on alleviating the financial burden on students attending private institutions at the lower-secondary level to ensure equitable access to education for all.