Teachers demand secondary education be nationalised
Teachers across the globe celebrated World Teacher's Day yesterday with the theme "Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future".
To mark the day, Bangladesh Shikkhak Samity and MPO Bhukto Shikkha Protisthan Jatiyakoron Liaison Forum held a rally in front of Jatiya Press Club yesterday. At the rally, the teachers demanded nationalisation of secondary education to not only ensure quality education, but also end the hardships faced by non-MPO educators.
Many non-government teachers are passing their days in dire condition in the absence of adequate salaries and benefits, they said. They also expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that there was no official observance of the day in the country.
Nazrul Islam Rony, president of Bangladesh Shikkhak Samity, urged the government to nationalise the secondary education sector by December this year, saying, "Otherwise we will initiate stern movements to press our demands," he said.
Swadhinata Shikkhak Parishad organised a webinar to mark the day, where its general secretary Shahjahan Alam Shaju said Bangladesh still invests only 2.4 percent to 2.5 percent of its GDP for education, although it should be at least six percent.
Several speakers alleged that many teachers are living under miserable conditions in the absence of adequate salaries and benefits from the government.
Speaking there, Education Minister Dipu Moni said that although many are demanding the nationalisation of secondary schools, there are some financial and policy related issues connected with this, adding that the government has taken various measures so teachers can live a dignified life.
She said that government is now prioritising infrastructural development.
In another event at Jatiya Press Club, chairperson of Shikkhak Karmachary Oikya Jote Selim Bhuiyan demanded nationalisation of all teaching jobs by November.
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