Retired non-govt teachers’ dues to be cleared

Steps will be taken to clear the outstanding retirement allowances of retired non-government teachers and employees within the next two years, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon has said on Wednesday.

The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at an exchange of views meeting with centre secretaries from four education boards. Held at the Azimpur Girls’ School and College auditorium in the capital, the meeting focused on the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations for 2026.

The minister said that individuals who retired since 2022 have not received any part of their allowances, which typically range between Tk 25 lakh and Tk 35 lakh per person.

He alleged that during the tenure of the previous administration, nearly Tk 7,000 crore was embezzled from the retirement fund, leaving thousands of retired teachers facing extreme uncertainty in their final years.

The minister said that the current administration has allocated an additional Tk 200 crore in the state budget and secured a special bond for the sector. The distribution of these allowances is scheduled to begin in mid-July, with the entire backlog expected to be resolved within two years.

Dr Milon also addressed infrastructural crises within the primary education sector, revealing that more than 60,000 primary schools are currently operating without head teachers.

He explained that a pending court case had blocked the appointment of 32,500 head teachers, during which time another 17,000 teachers retired. He criticised previous administrations for failing to resolve the litigation, stating that the education system had effectively been held hostage.

“The current government would not tolerate corruption or political interference in the education sector. He added that steps would be taken to gradually increase the benefits of non-government teachers in alignment with the government pay scale to retain talented professionals, referencing a foundational framework of state facilities for teachers originally introduced by late President Ziaur Rahman”, he said.

Reflecting on broader digital transformation and financial reforms, the minister contrasted the current education budget of Tk 136,000 crore with the previous administration’s allocation of Tk 87,000 crore, which represented 1.39 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Under the current leadership, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced plans to eventually raise the education budget to 5 percent of GDP. Dr Milon stated that the current budget would be utilised for teacher training, mid-day meals, and the development of technical education.

Furthermore, the minister outlined upcoming digital and curriculum timelines. Revised curriculum textbooks are scheduled for completion and distribution by December 2027.

Primary school students will receive shoes, socks, bags, and uniforms to foster an engaging learning environment, while teachers are being provided with tablets and smart classrooms.

Dr Milon warned that digital technology would be deployed to monitor whether education officials are properly supervising classes, adding that negligence of duty would not be tolerated.

The meeting was chaired by Dhaka Education Board Chairman Professor Syed Md Akhtaruzzaman and attended by the lawmaker for the Dhaka-7 constituency, Hamidur Rahman, who served as the special guest. Chairmen of the Mymensingh, Madrasa, and Technical Education Boards, alongside relevant examination officials and district and upazila education officers, were also present.

Allowance Clearance: Unpaid retirement dues for non-government teachers since 2022 will begin distribution in mid-July and are slated for full clearance within two years.

Budgetary Expansion: The education budget has increased to Tk 136,000 crore, with long-term plans announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to raise it to 5 percent of GDP.

Digital & Structural Reforms: Over 60,000 primary schools lack head teachers due to prolonged litigation, while new initiatives include smart classrooms, teacher tablets, and digital monitoring of supervisory staff