MPO teachers set deadline, threaten fresh agitation
MPO-listed private teachers and employees have given the government until August 31 to meet their 10-point demands, including inclusion in the ninth national pay scale, job nationalisation, full festival bonuses and government-rate house rent.
The Teacher-Employee Job Nationalisation Alliance and Retired Teacher-Employee Coordination Forum announced a three-phase programme on Wednesday, warning of divisional rallies in September and October and a broader movement if the demands are not implemented.
The organisations announced the programme at a press conference at the Abdus Salam Hall of the Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday.
In a written statement, the alliance’s chief adviser Jasim Uddin Ahmed said inequalities in education could not be fully eliminated without nationalising the jobs of private teachers and employees. He also stressed that their 10 legitimate demands should be implemented before nationalisation.
The demands include payment of outstanding dues of MPO-listed teachers and employees according to existing rules and regulations, nationalisation of their jobs to eliminate discrimination, speedy transfer facilities, full festival allowances and house rent according to government rules.
The organisations also demanded the introduction of PSC-2 instead of NTRCA for teacher recruitment, MPO inclusion for recognised educational institutions and recruitment of holders of the first to 12th registration certificates. Other demands include raising the retirement age to 65 and appointing a second night guard while maintaining existing leave arrangements for night guards.
The organisations also raised questions about welfare and retirement benefits for retired teachers and employees.
Jasim Uddin Ahmed said there had previously been a provision for providing welfare and retirement benefits based on the last salary, while the new system has introduced an initiative to provide applicants with a fixed amount.
He questioned why a fixed amount was being determined under the current system.
He also said reports that retired teachers and employees might receive only the money they had deposited in the future had created concern among teachers and employees.
The government needs to clarify its position on the matter, he said.
The leaders said a significant portion of the country’s education system depends on private educational institutions, yet MPO-listed teachers and employees continue to face discrimination compared with their counterparts in government institutions.
They cited disparities in salaries and allowances, house rent, festival bonuses, transfers, retirement benefits and job security.
According to the organisations, nationalising private education is necessary for a long-term solution rather than simply increasing allowances temporarily.
They said nationalisation would strengthen job security for teachers and employees while reducing inequalities in the education sector.
The organisations said they would launch three programmes if the 10 demands were not implemented by August 31.
First, they demanded that a 10-member delegation of teachers be given an opportunity to meet the Prime Minister within the next 10 days.
Second, they will hold divisional rallies in September and October to build public support for their demands.
Third, they will form struggle committees comprising teachers and employees irrespective of political affiliation and announce a broader programme.
Speakers at the press conference praised the government’s allocations for education and various initiatives for the welfare of teachers and employees, but expressed dissatisfaction with the role of the Ministry of Education.
They alleged that circumstances were developing that could create distance between the government and teachers and employees.
The leaders said they would have greater confidence in the government if it took initiatives to implement their legitimate demands.
But delays in implementing announced benefits would increase discontent at the grassroots level, they warned.
They said the movement could expand further if longstanding problems involving salaries and allowances, job security and retirement benefits were not permanently resolved.
The leaders said the teaching community needed to see concrete decisions and implementation rather than assurances to build confidence.
They also said inclusion of private teachers and employees in the national pay scale and nationalisation of their jobs were no longer isolated demands, but were directly linked to eliminating inequality in the education system.
The press conference was moderated by Matiur Rahman and chaired by Jasim Uddin Ahmed. Professor Manzurul Islam, Md Ali, Nur Mohammad Khokon, Hashim Talukdar, Lutfur Islam, Yusuf and Jharna Biswas, among other teacher-employee leaders, were present.
