Teachers’ strike halts annual exams in govt schools
Staff Reporter :
Annual examinations in most government primary and secondary schools were disrupted on Monday as teachers across the country enforced a work abstention to press for various demands including salary increases.
According to reports from different districts, annual exams scheduled to begin in the majority of government primary schools could not be held.
At the secondary level, examinations already underway at several institutions were also suspended, leaving students and parents worried about the academic calendar and exam results.
Education officials, however, have instructed that the examinations must still be completed within the stipulated time.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) issued an order on Monday, 1 December, directing the concerned authorities to ensure smooth completion of the annual exams.
In the order signed by DSHE Director Professor Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, it was stated that “If any kind of negligence or irregularity is observed on the part of the teachers or officials responsible for the examinations, action will be taken as per regulations.”
The directive was sent to all Deputy Commissioners, Upazila Nirbahi Officers and the Ministry of Education.
The teachers’ programme follows a series of protests in the capital. Under the banner of the Bangladesh Government Secondary School Teachers’ Association, secondary school teachers staged a sit-in on Thursday and Sunday in front of Shikkha Bhaban in Dhaka to press home their four-point demand, including pay hikes and improved service benefits.
At the conclusion of the programme, the association announced the beginning of a work stoppage from Monday.
At the primary level, a section of assistant teachers in government primary schools, under the banner of the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council, also enforced a full-day work abstention on Monday.
They refrained from participating in the annual examinations that were scheduled to begin that day, effectively causing the tests to be postponed.
Students and guardians have expressed concern that prolonged disruption may affect academic progress and create session jam.
On the other hand, leaders of the teachers’ platforms have said the movement will continue until their demands are accepted and implemented by the authorities.