The National Primary Education Academy Bill, 2024 was placed in Parliament on Sunday aiming to make a new law instead of an Ordinance.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Rumana Ali placed the Bill and it was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education for examination.
The Committee was asked to submit its report within 20 days.
Now there is National Primary Education Academy (NEP) in Mymensingh. It is established under an Ordinance. Now it is being brought under a separate new law.
According to the objective of the Bill, National Academy of Primary Education is a national level training and research institute under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education located in Mymensingh.
In 1978, this institution was established under the name of Academy for Fundamental Education under the Ministry of Education.
The institution was renamed as National Academy of Primary Education in 1985 and it is functioning as a statutory body from October 1, 2004.
One of the responsibilities of this academy is to organise various short-term trainings including basic training for about five lakh field level teachers under the Directorate of Primary Education, conduct research to improve the quality of primary education, provide basic training for teachers held in PTIs, prepare resource books and instructor guides for trainees, Conducting examinations with academic supervision of basic training and issuing certificates to successful trainees.
The Government Educational and Training Institutions Ordinance, 1961
Accordingly, several training and research institutes were run in Bangladesh.
But at present the said institutions have enacted separate laws to carry out relevant activities such as the National Planning and Development Academy Establishment Act, 2018 is enforceable.
National Primary Education Academy, Mymensingh, with the prior approval of the 14-member Board of Governors constituted under the powers conferred by the said Ordinance; Resolution 2004 enacted a resolution and the National Academy of Primary Education is currently operating as per the directives provided by the resolution.
It is expedient to enact a law for National Academy of Primary Education as it is absolutely necessary to conduct systematic training and conduct research activities for the implementation of National Primary Education Curriculum. Recruitment of manpower is not possible due to lack of National Academy of Primary Education Act or Rules.
Officials under various Ministries/Organizations/Department of Primary Education are appointed and join the Academy on deputation, but as most of the officers do not have research and training work experience, it is not possible to involve them in the core work of the Academy.
Due to lack of rules and regulations of National Academy of Primary Education, problems are also created in promotion, transfer, posting, orderly arrangements, administrative activities of National Academy of Primary Education employees and Pension and Gratuity Allocation Code is not getting from the Finance Ministry.
It is imperative to enact a separate law to strengthen the legal basis of NEP, including its own manpower recruitment, promotion and settlement of financial matters.
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As per the specific directives of the Act/Rules, the National Primary Education Academy would function as a fully autonomous organization and can contribute significantly to the domestic and international arena as a national training and research institute.