We Back the Government on This

THE teachers of the country's non-government primary schools, currently staging sit-in and hunger strike at the Osmany Udyan to press home their demands for nationalisation of their schools, have taken the matter too far for anyone's comfort. While their principal demand itself is self-serving, to say the least, their call for resignation of the education minister is simply outrageous. We strongly condemn their action and back the government's stance on the issue. Other than dispelling uncertainty over their jobs, nationalisation of the non-government primary schools would actually bring about no benefit to the students or the standard of education at these institutions. Instead, it would put unnecessary strain on the public exchequer with a further allocation of 150 to 200 crore taka for the primary education sector. Moreover, addition of some 22,000 schools to the 38,000 already under supervision of the Directorate of Primary Education would invariably result in an administrative disaster. Harsh it may sound, but the fact of the matter is: the primary school teachers' demand has no merit whatsoever to even induce active consideration from the government.

Unfortunately, our political leaders, of both the ruling party and the opposition, are solely responsible for letting the issue grow out of proportion. Especially the BNP's shift of position in this regard is simply infuriating. While in power, did it not held firm on their anti-nationalisation stance in the face of intense agitation by the teachers? We wonder what compelling development has taken place since then to induce such a dramatic policy turn-around. The Awami League has performed no less a somersault than its political rivals. It also extended support to the teachers' demand while in opposition. Obviously, both parties let their good senses be overtaken by electoral impulse. While knowing fully well that other than probably winning a few thousand votes nationalisation of the non-government primary schools would actually be of very little benefit for either the students or the standard of primary education.

The primary school teachers' demand should by no means be catered to, and we lend our full support to the government's plan to leave management of the non-government primary schools to local communities and the NGOs. We would urge the opposition to refrain from fanning a situation that has already assumed untenable proportions. Finally, we would request the teachers to disembark from a movement that can only compromise greater national interest for their job security.