Private primary teachers stay put
The indefinite hunger strike of the primary teachers of non-government schools demanding nationalisation of their institutions rolled into second day yesterday.
Although 148 teachers fell ill since they began their movement on January 21, they vowed to continue the strike until their demand is met.
“Five of our teachers fell sick today [yesterday]. More than 40 teachers have been hospitalised so far, but no one from the government came to meet us,” said Mohammad Firoz Uddin, one of the leaders of the agitating teachers.
Yesterday, some teachers were seen sitting in front of Jatiya Press Club while some others lying on polythene sheets and cardboards.
Mahbuba Begum, headteacher of Gandamari Aftabuddin Mia Non-government Primary School in Patuakhali, said, “Since joining in 2006, I have been teaching students with devotion, but without any pay. It is so unfortunate.”
She said they want the government to consider their demand as they, like all other teachers, also contribute to the nation-building activities.
Several hundred teachers, under the banner of Bangladesh Besarkari Prathomik Shikkhak Samity, a platform of private primary teachers, started a sit-in on January 21, and then a “symbolic hunger strike” the next day in front of the press club to press home their demand.
According to the agitating primary teachers, the government nationalised 26,193 primary schools that were established before May 9 of 2012 following the announcement in this regard by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 9, 2013.
But around 4,000 primary institutions were not nationalised despite fulfilling all the conditions, said Mamunur Rashid, president of the platform. “We have fulfilled all the conditions... Our students also participate in primary terminal examination every year. But we are left out,” he said.
He said committees were formed at district and upazila levels to recommend the primary schools, which were to be included in the nationalisation process.
“But our turn did not come. We are leading inhumane lives,” Mamunur said. “We will continue the strike till our demand is met.”
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