Sylhet Bureau :
At the call of the Oikya Parishad, the primary assistant teachers’ organization, all assistant teachers in every upazila of Sylhet, like the rest of the country, have observed a one-hour work break from 9 am to 10 am. This work break was observed in government primary schools in Sylhet from Monday (May 5) morning.
It is learned that the assistant teachers have called for a strike under the banner of the Primary Assistant Teachers’ Organization, Oikya Parishad.
Assistant teachers of government primary schools across the country have announced to go on a three-point strike, including salary fixing for 11th graders. According to the centrally announced program, they will go on a one-hour strike from May 5 to 15, a two-hour strike from May 16 to 25, and a full day from May 26. The strike will continue until the demands are met.
In this regard, Promthesh Dutta, Central Senior Joint General Secretary of Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers Association and President of Sylhet District Committee, said, “Currently, government primary school teachers have joined higher education. But the government is not giving the teachers the status they deserve. Our demand was 10th grade. Considering the overall situation of the country, we are demanding 11th grade. Assistant teachers were promoted in 2009. No more promotions have been given in 16 years. In almost half of the schools in the country, the head teacher post is vacant, but they are not being promoted. Schools are being run by acting head teachers. A teacher is not getting promotion even after serving for 25/30 years. He is retiring from the same post.
He further said, on the other hand, according to the 2015 National Pay Scale policy, a government employee is automatically supposed to get a higher grade on completion of 10 and 16 years of service. But teachers are being deprived of it by giving various excuses. In this way, it will not be possible to implement quality primary education. I strongly demand from the Chief Advisor to implement these demands.
Sheikh Nurul Islam, Senior Vice President of Sylhet District of the Assistant Teachers Association, said, “We are all united in implementing the program announced by the center to achieve our just demands. Today, the 1-hour strike was properly implemented in Sylhet district, including our Golapganj. For that, I sincerely thank the assistant teachers of Sylhet district and urge them to implement the program in the coming days.”
Md. Rashed Newaz, General Secretary of the Sylhet Metropolitan Branch of the Assistant Teachers Association, said, the demand raised by the Primary Assistant Teachers Oikya Parishad is not only about the rights of teachers, it is a question of strengthening the foundation of education in the country. Assistant teachers still receive salaries below the 11th grade, where their scope of work and responsibilities are equivalent to those of main teachers. Even after two decades of joining, most teachers have not yet received the opportunity for promotion. This is hampering professional excellence and hindering the improvement of the quality of education.
He further said, “The demands we have raised from the Unity Council—such as: salary scale in grade 11, elimination of complications in obtaining higher grades, and 100% quick promotion to the post of head teacher. These demands are not a luxury, but a fair right. The government should immediately implement these reasonable demands to establish fairness among teachers and further strengthen the foundation of primary education.”
The assistant teachers have three demands: rationally reform the recommendations of the government-formed consultation committee and set the salary at grade 11, making the assistant teacher post an entry level post. Removing the complications of obtaining higher grades after completing 10 years and 16 years. Providing 100% promotion to the post of head teacher, including rapid promotion.
