Government primary school teachers across Bangladesh have begun a full-day work abstention on Monday, demanding solutions to three demands including salary grade adjustments and resolving promotion complications.
The protest is being led by the Primary Assistant Teachers’ Unity Council, a coalition of teachers. Despite being present at schools since Monday morning, the teachers are refraining from taking any scheduled classes.
Anisur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Primary Assistant Teachers’ Association, stated, “We want assistant teachers to be placed in the 11th salary grade, the resolution of complications regarding higher grades, and 100% promotion of assistant teachers to head teacher positions.”
Previously, the teachers observed phased work abstentions starting on May 5, including one-hour, two-hour, and half-day walkouts. With no resolution, they have now launched an indefinite full-day work abstention.
A recent recommendation by the Primary Education Reform Advisory Committee suggested abolishing the assistant teacher designation, starting new recruits at the 12th grade, upgrading to the 11th grade after four years, and appointing head teachers through promotion. However, the protesting teachers insist on being placed in the 11th grade from the start.
Currently, there are approximately 384,000 teachers working in 65,567 government primary schools across the country. The protesting teachers have vowed to continue their work abstention until their demands are met.