Primary teachers launch work stoppage, will step up protest in stages

Assistant teachers of public primary schools have launched a work stoppage to push for various demands.

Protest leaders say that after observing a one-hour strike during class time every day until May 15, the period of the stoppage will be stretched.

The programme launched on Monday to demand that their salary be fixed at Grade 11 by of the pay grade considering the assistant teacher position as an entry level post, the removal of complications for transition to higher grades after completing 10 and 16 years of service, and faster promotions, including the promotion of assistant teachers to fill 100 percent of head teacher positions.

The protest is being conducted by the Primary Assistant Teachers Organization Oikya Parishad, a platform of primary assistant teachers.

Md Anisur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Primary Assistant Teachers Society, told bdnews24.com on Monday: "The advisory committee on primary and non-formal education reforms has recommended setting the salary of teachers at the Grade 12 level at the entry level and elevating them to the Grade 11 level with a promotion after four years.”

"But we want the salary of assistant teachers at the Grade 11 level from entry, to resolve the complications of reaching higher grades and to demand the promotion of assistant teachers to 100 percent of the posts of head teachers, we have begun to conduct a one-hour strike every day.”

He said that teachers across the country will observe a one-hour strike every class day until May 15, and extend it to two hours from May 16 to 20.

“A half-day strike will be observed from May 21 to 25. Teachers will observe a continuous full-day strike from May 26 until their demands are met,” said the protest leader.

Anisur also claimed that 65,000 government primary school teachers across the country are taking part in the protest.

Currently, assistant teachers receive salaries at the Grade 13 level and head teachers at the Grade 11 level.

After the interim government took charge, an advisory committee was formed on primary and non-formal education reforms in October. Emeritus Professor Manzoor Ahmed of BRAC University was appointed as its convener. The committee submitted its recommendation report on Feb 10.

The committee recommended abolishing the post of assistant teacher and paying Grade 12 level salaries for entry-level teachers. It recommended paying head teachers at the Grade 10 level and appointing them to the post of head teachers through promotion.

Then, on Apr 24, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education took the initiative to raise the salary of head teachers who were paid at Grade 11 to Grade 10 and also raised the salaries of assistant teachers from Grade 13 to Grade 12.