Non-MPO teachers demand inclusion

At least 250 teachers of 23 secondary and higher secondary educational institutions in Kishoreganj upazila formed a human chain in the upazila headquarters on Wednesday, demanding that the government include them in its monthly pay order (MPO) facilities.

The institutions include Shishu Niketon School and College, Borovita School and College, Bherbheri School and College, Kalikapur School and College, Begum Khaleda Zia School and College and Monthona High School, Bahagli Ghat High School, Uttar Durakuthi High School and Kellabari Biddya Niketon and Musha Dhakil Madrasa, Chadkhana Burir Hat Dhakil Madrasa and Singer Gari Johuria Sharif Dhakil Madrasa.     

They also warned of tougher agitation programme if their demand was not met immediately.

According to upazila education office, teachers of nine colleges, nine high schools and junior schools and five dakhil madrasas are yet to get salary or other benefits from the government.

Investigation by this correspondent found that the oldest non-MPO educational institution in the upazila is Kishoreganj Shishu Niketon High School and College, founded in 1984 in the upazila headquarters on one acre of land.

There are 297 students and 14 teachers and every year a number of students get GPA-5 in SSC and HSC examinations where pass rate is 90% on average.

Abdul Malek, principal of the institution, said “In spite of various achievements in the last 33 years, we're out of MPO and by this time, a number of founding teachers have died.”

Another non-MPO institution is Magura Junior Girls' School set up in 1998 where the number of students and teachers is 250 and 10 and pass rate in JSC was 100% in 2016.

Headmaster Md Iqbal Hossen, said, “We're giving free service for long 19 years.”

District Education Officer Md Shafiqul Islam said the education directorate in an order suspended issuing MPO facility from 2010, which was withdrawn recently and verification is going on to issue MPO to eligible teachers.