United News of Bangladesh

Leaders of primary school teachers have called off their work abstention following assurances from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education that their demands will be communicated to the Finance Ministry and resolved as soon as possible. The decision was announced by the ministry on Sunday (Nov 9). Read more: Primary school teachers protest at Shaheed Minar, demand implementation of 10th grade salary scale A meeting was held between senior officials of the ministry and leaders of the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council and the Primary Assistant Teachers’ Unity Council, where the teachers’ demands were discussed in detail. Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education chaired the meeting. The key demands of the teachers include: upgrading the pay scale of assistant teachers from grade 13 to grade 10, resolving complications regarding higher grades after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100% departmental promotion from assistant teacher to head teacher. Read more: Primary teachers continue protests for pay upgrade, advisers’ resignation

The government has taken a decision to appoint 93 percent teachers in the primary education level, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Bidhan Ranjan Roy said on Sunday. “There will be no dependent quota in the primary teacher’s recruitment,” he said while speaking at a view-exchange meeting with the officials concerned of Khulna Division at Khulna Divisional Commissioner’s office on Sunday. He also stressed the need for training of teachers before joining their duty for the development of primary education. Bidhan said it is impossible for one to maintain the quality of education at the primary level, rather collective participation of the society is needed. He also sought cooperation from all to achieve this goal. Bangladesh-India stalemate: Foreign Affairs Adviser sees path to resolution Referring to the infrastructures, the adviser said beautiful schools are being built in Dhaka city corporations and surrounding areas and ‘Mid-Day Meals’ will be introduced in all primary schools across the country within the next five years. “The project is currently awaiting approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).” In the first phase, it will be introduced in 150 upazilas of the country as the students in Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban some and other parts of the country are already getting ‘Mid-Day Meals’. Besides, stipends were introduced to increase the attendance of students, he said. He said although students' names are listed for stipends at primary schools, many of them are studying in other schools.

Dhaka, Oct 23 (UNB) – Demonstrating teachers of primary schools on Wednesday announced that they would boycott the Primary Education Completion (PEC) examination starting from November 17 if their demands are not met within November 13.