‘Complete Shutdown’ by Assistant Teachers in Government Primary Schools: Annual Exams Suspended

Staff Report: PNN

Assistant teachers in government primary schools have started a “complete shutdown” from Thursday under the joint initiative of two organizations. As a result, ongoing third-term assessments or annual exams in schools across the country have been completely disrupted. In many schools, teachers themselves have locked the gates, and where exams are being conducted, they are running only partially.

In this situation, the Primary Education Department has threatened to take action under service law and criminal law against teachers involved in this disciplinary violation without holding discussions with the striking teachers. Several teacher leaders have already been served show-cause notices.

Parents have expressed frustration, as such actions during the annual exams create major obstacles for students’ studies. Experts believe that resolving the situation through discussion and negotiation with the teachers is necessary, otherwise students will suffer further.

The three demands of the assistant teachers are:

1. Immediate provision of the 11th-grade salary scale.

2. Simplifying the process for higher grade promotions at the 10- and 16-year marks of service.

3. Guarantee 100% departmental promotion from assistant teacher to head teacher.

Currently, assistant teachers are in the 13th grade with a starting basic salary of 11,000 BDT. There are 65,569 government primary schools in the country, with more than one crore students and approximately 352,000 teachers.

The Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council started the strike on November 27. The Assistant Teachers’ Unity Council also held a strike from November 23 to 27. The two organizations are jointly carrying out the locked-down program in schools from Thursday.

The Ministry, in a press release today, directed the assistant teachers to immediately return to work to conduct third-term exams and complete all school activities. It also stated that a letter has been sent to the Pay Commission regarding promotion to the 11th grade, and necessary measures have been taken with the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration to implement other demands.

The press release warned that if the shutdown continues, students’ education will be affected, and action will be taken under service law, conduct rules, and criminal law.