Several social and cultural groups have strongly condemned the government’s decision to cancel the recruitment of music and physical education teachers in 65,569 government primary schools.
On Tuesday, Jannatul Ferdous Urmi, assistant professor at the Department of Music, University of Chittagong, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Music and physical education do not mean entertainment; they are about ensuring an integrated and humane education – one that nurtures the mind, body, and soul.
“I believe there is no conflict between music education and religious education; rather, they complement each other in building a balanced, ethical, and enlightened generation.”
She further said, “Many believe that music education conflicts with religion, but I do not think so. If taught with good intentions, moral values, and cultural awareness, music makes people sensitive, peaceful, and humane — which aligns with the ethical teachings of Islam.
“History shows that at various points in Islamic civilisation, music was one of the key means of meditation, reflection, and social harmony.”
Several social, cultural, and political organisations issued statements on Tuesday regarding the matter.
In a statement, the cultural organisation Udichi Shilpogoshthi said the decision reflected the government’s submissive stance toward a particular group. It added that by cancelling the posts of music and physical education teachers under pressure from a few religion-based parties, a shameful precedent has been set.
Udichi has alleged that attempts are being made to establish a new form of fascism in the name of religion. The organisation also stated that the people of this country will not accept any policy imposed against its heritage and culture in the name of religion.
The organization, Jatiya Shikkha-Sansrikiti Andolan has described the government’s decision as an attack on the educational and cultural heritage of all communities living in Bangladesh, including Bengalis.
In its statement, the organisation said the interim government has, from the very beginning, chosen a path of compromise with religious fundamentalist forces, which goes against the spirit of the July mass uprising. It urged people from all walks of life to unite and resist this decision collectively.
The Students’ Union has termed the cancellation of the recruitment of music and physical education teachers as part of the government’s policy of appeasing religious fundamentalists.
In a statement, the organisation said that in response to demands from fundamentalist groups, the government had earlier changed the name of the UNESCO-recognised Mangal Shobhajatra to Ananda Shobhajatra.
Now, it has revoked the decision to recruit music and physical education teachers in primary schools under pressure from religion-based organisations. Through this move, the government has blocked the institutional path for children’s physical development and cultural awareness.
In the statement, the organisations demanded the immediate formulation of the Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules 2025, keeping the provision for appointing music and physical education teachers.
It should be mentioned that on 28 August, a notification was issued announcing the Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules 2025. The rules included four positions – head teacher, assistant teacher, assistant teacher (music), and assistant teacher (physical education) – for government primary schools.
Following the announcement, various religious groups and faith-based political parties demanded the cancellation of the decision to recruit music and physical education teachers and called for the appointment of religious teachers instead.
