The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has sent a letter to the Ministry of Finance recommending an upgrade to assistant teachers’ positions in government primary schools from Grade 13 to Grade 11.
Primary and Mass Education Adviser Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar confirmed this information during a press briefing at the secretariat on Tuesday.
He stated that a letter has been sent to the Ministry of Finance recommending measures to ensure that assistant teachers at government primary schools can receive salary and benefits under Grade 11.
During this time, the primary and mass education adviser expressed sorrow and condolences regarding the death of teacher Fatema Akter, who participated in the movement for the job grade increase. He pledged to stand by the deceased teacher’s family.
Assistant teachers of primary schools began a sit-in program at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital on 7 November, with three demands including a Grade 10 designation.
On 8 November, they went to Shahbagh in the capital to observe a “pen drop” programme. At that time, police dispersed them with baton charges, sound grenades, and water cannons. Five teachers were detained from the spot.
When the detained teachers were released on 9 November, teacher leaders held a meeting with the Primary and Mass Education Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana. On 10 November, they also met with Finance Division Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder.
Both ministries promised to upgrade the teachers’ jobs from Grade 13 to Grade 11. Subsequently, the teachers withdrew their programs starting from 11 November.
On 8 November, Fatema Akter, an assistant teacher at Jhinaiya Government Primary School in North Matlab, Chandpur district, fell ill due to panic from the grenades sound. She passed away on 16 November at a private hospital in the capital.
