Primary school assistant teachers have announced a continuous sit-in program to press for a three-point demand, including the implementation of the 10th grade.
The Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council will begin the program collectively at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on Saturday.
The movement will be led by Md Abul Kasem, president of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association (Kasem-Shahin); Khairun Nahar Lipi, general secretary of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association (Shahin-Lipi); Md Shamsuddin Masud, central president of the Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers’ Association; Md Mahbubur Rahman, advocate for the 10th grade implementation; and one of the key coordinators, Mohammad Anwar Ullah.
Assistant teachers who were recommended in the third phase of recruitment for government primary schools have expressed solidarity with the ongoing movement, demanding the implementation of the 10th grade and fulfillment of their three-point demand.
One of them, Md Mohib Ullah, called upon all teachers to unite in ensuring the success of the movement.
Teachers said that sub-inspectors of police, nurses, sub-assistant agricultural officers, union parishad secretaries, and administrative and personal officers of various ministries receive salaries and benefits under the 10th grade.
However, despite holding the highest academic qualifications, primary school assistant teachers have long been deprived of the 11th grade.
Hence, they have now taken to the field to realize their three-point demand, including the implementation of the 10th grade.
The sit-in will begin at 10am on Saturday, at the Central Shaheed Minar.
Earlier, the teachers had been on a hunger strike since October 17, which was later suspended by a section of the movement.
Teachers said that following several rounds of demonstrations, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education assured them of implementing the 11th grade and sent a proposal to the Ministry of Finance on August 7.
However, instead of approving it, the Finance Ministry forwarded the proposal to the newly formed Pay Commission.
After two months with no progress, teachers met with the Pay Commission, which informed them that the issue of grade changes falls under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission, not the Pay Commission.
Following this statement, teachers renewed their call for the implementation of the 10th grade and announced a new program.
The teachers’ three-point demand:
- Granting the long-awaited 10th grade to assistant teachers.
- Resolving issues related to higher grade entitlement after 10 and 16 years of service.
- Ensuring 100% departmental promotion opportunities.
