Primary school teachers in the country on Saturday pressed home their five-point demands, which included an upgrade to their professional status and pay scale, aiming to break free from the label of “third-class employees.”
They raised their demand at a views-exchange meeting organised by Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association held at the Jahir Hossain Chowdhury auditorium of the National Press Club on Saturday.
The five demands were: A call for 11th grade entry-level pay for assistant teachers, 10th grade and second-class gazetted status for head teachers, full promotion opportunity for head teacher posts, grade upgrades after 10 and 16 years of service, and implementation of a new 9th pay scale.
The association warned that if the government fails to meet their demands, they will begin an indefinite hunger strike at the Central Shaheed Minar starting September 28.
Speakers at the event argued that, despite holding Honours and Master’s degrees, primary teachers are treated as third-class employees, leading to social humiliation and undermined dignity in the community.
“To walk with dignity in society, teachers need both higher pay and elevated job grades,” said several speakers, adding that improving their professional standing is essential for attracting talented individuals to the sector.
At the same time, the teachers criticised the issuance of GOs (government order) only in the names of 45 head teachers who filed a lawsuit demanding 10th grade.
They said, “These 45 filed the case on behalf of all 65,524 head teachers in the country. The grade upgrade should apply to all, not just a few,” they said.
The event, titled “Obstacles to Ensuring Teachers’ Rights in Primary Education and Resolving Current Crises,” also saw renewed calls for the creation of a Primary Education Cadre, similar to other civil service structures, to institutionalise career progression and professional respect for primary educators.
Advocate Rafiq Sikder, member of the BNP National Executive Committee, said, “In Europe, primary school teachers are held in high esteem. To attract top talents to this field, Bangladesh must also raise the status and benefits of primary educators.”
Chairman of Jahangirnagar University’s Mathematics Department and Joint Secretary of the University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh Dr Md Nazrul Islam stated, “Primary teachers deserve the 9th grade. If they themselves are not considered first-class, how can they create first-class citizens?”
Association president Moyazzem Hossain Shahin, General Secretary Khairun Nahar Lipi, Policy-Making Chairman Md Sirajul Islam, Adviser VP Ibrahim, among others, also addressed the gathering.