Schoolteacher Recruitment: DCs want the quotas gone
For the DC conference starting tomorrow, the deputy commissioners have made 245 proposals, including cancellation of quotas in the assistant teacher appointments at primary schools.
The DCs are the chief administrative and revenue officers of districts.
The Kurigram DC proposed abolishment of the quota system. He said even though there are more qualified candidates, many unqualified people get the job because of the quotas. Qualified candidates are likely to be overlooked. This could also obstruct the government from achieving the target of employment in every family.
According to the government primary schoolteacher recruitment policy for 2019, 60 percent of the vacancies are reserved for females, 20 percent for the children of current staff members and teachers, and 20 percent are reserved for males.
The Jhenidah DC proposed formulation of a policy banning politics for MPO teachers and their involvement in other profitable jobs in addition to their teaching duties.
She said this way teachers would be able to pay more attention to lessons, thereby enhancing the quality of education.
The Shariatpur DC recommended that upazila nirbahi officers be made presidents of upazila education committees instead of upazila parishad chairmen.
The Naogaon DC proposed that schools with a small number of students be closed and the students be merged with those of nearby schools. He believes that it will help reduce government spending.
The Narsingdi DC recommended the introduction of midday meals at primary schools in remote char areas, saying that it will help reduce dropouts and prevent children suffering from malnutrition.
The main issues for discussion in this year's conference will be land management, improving law and order, strengthening the activities of agencies under the local government division, implementing the social safety net programmes, and improving education quality.
The three-day conference will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 10:00am at Shapla Hall in the Prime Minister's Office, said Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at the Secretariat yesterday.
He said there will be 26 sessions, including 20 working ones. The conference will end on Thursday.
Mahbub added that during last year's conference, the DCs made 242 proposals and 177 of them were implemented.
Sources said this year's DC conference is extra important since it will be the last conference before the national election slated for January next year. The DCs serve as returning officers during the polls.
Of the 245 proposals, the highest 23 are for the health ministry followed by 15 for the land ministry and 13 for the water resources ministry.