Primary teachers demand holiday on May 23 for leisure allowance eligibility

PNN News Desk, Dhaka

Primary school teachers have demanded that government primary schools remain closed on May 23 (Saturday) to ensure eligibility for leisure allowance benefits. A written application has been submitted to the Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education.

On Wednesday (April 29), four teacher leaders from the “Primary Teachers Demand Implementation Council” submitted the application. It was signed by Md. Abul Kashem, Mohammad Shamsuddin Masud, Khairun Nahar Lipi, and Md. Mahbubur Rahman.

The leaders stated that primary teachers have long been performing their duties with dedication. Although they are entitled to leisure allowances every three years like other government employees, they are often deprived due to structural complications related to holidays.

They said that because primary education is a vacation-based department, differences exist in holiday structures during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha. As a result, teachers often cannot meet the required conditions for receiving the allowance.

According to them, the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha holidays are scheduled from May 24 to June 4. Including weekly holidays before and after, a total of 15 days’ leave is required for eligibility. However, since schools are open on Saturday, May 23, this requirement is not being met.

They have demanded that declaring May 23 a holiday would allow teachers to meet the required conditions and receive their allowance on time.

They also said that instead of receiving the allowance every three years, teachers are now forced to wait four to five years, causing hardship. They urged authorities to consider the matter from a humanitarian perspective.