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Assistant teachers at government primary schools have decided to observe full-day work stoppages starting Monday to press home their demands, including wages under Grade 11 of the pay scale and recognition of their position as an entry-level post.
Other demands include resolving the complications around transitioning to higher pay grades after completing 10 and 16 years of service, and faster promotions, including the promotion of assistant teachers to fill 100 per cent of head teacher positions.
The protest is being carried out under the banner of "Primary Assistant Teachers Organisation Oikya Parishad", a platform of primary assistant teachers.
Since May 5, the teachers have held a one-hour strike during class hours every day until May 15, two hours from May 15-20 and a half-day strike from May 21 until Sunday.
A leader of the protesting organisation, Md Anisur Rahman, told bdnews24.com: “The advisory committee on primary and non-formal education reform has recommended setting the salary of teachers at the 12th grade at the entry level and elevating them to Grade 11 after four years. But we want Grade 11 salaries from the start for assistant teacher.
“And to push for the removal of the complications in getting higher wages and the promotion of assistant teachers to fill all head teacher posts, we will observe a continuous, full-day work stoppage from tomorrow until our demands are met.”
He said 65,000 government primary school teachers across the country are participating in the ongoing movement.
“We've had discussions with the director general [of the Directorate of Primary Education]. He assured us of resolving the complications of getting promotions and higher grades. At the same time, he also said that he would send a salary proposal for the 11th grade. However, we do not believe in assurances."
Assistant teachers now receive salaries at Grade 13 and head teachers at Grade 11.
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 convenor. The committee submitted its recommendation report on Feb 10.
The committee recommended abolishing the post of assistant teacher and paying Grade 12 salaries for entry-level teachers. It recommended paying head teachers under Grade 10 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 from Grade 11 to Grade 10, and also raised the salaries of assistant teachers from Grade 13 to Grade 12.