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.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has denounced the incident where teachers of 265 primary schools in Kurigram attending the wedding reception of the son of the state minister of primary and mass education keeping the schools closed. Head teachers have institutionalised personal invitations using their three days of reserved leave in such a way, the graft watchdog body said in a statement on Tuesday. Read more: TIB wants ACC's work order granting greater powers to secretary withdrawn In this regard, a clear explanation from the government is needed as to whether this leave reserved for special circumstances can be used for such events or not, it said. According to the media reports, the teachers of Chilmari, Roumari and Char Rajibpur upazilas of Kurigram attended the wedding reception on January 8. They also presented gold rings, a refrigerator and a washing machine after each teacher contributed Tk 500 each compulsorily.   The TIB has demanded that all those involved, including the state minister, should be made accountable for such an incident that demonstrated the destruction of the country's education sector through partisanship and abuse of power. Read more: IMF’s conditions for loan: TIB watchful about “discriminatory implications” TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said, “This incident is an extremely alarming example of the country's education system being held hostage by factionalism and abuse of power in the long process. None of the state ministers, education officers concerned and teachers can avoid the responsibility.” The government should publish an explanation in this regard for the information of the public, especially the students, he added.

The information of question paper leakage through social media in the recruitment examination for the post of assistant teacher in primary schools is an absolute rumour, said State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain on Friday. The state minister made this remark after inspecting the exam centre at Eden Mohila College in Dhaka. Also read:1st phase exam to recruit primary school assistant teachers begins Friday “We are continuously monitoring to prevent question paper leak. And we haven’t received any information regarding the leak,” said Zakir. “If anyone gets any information, let us know. We will take immediate action.” The first phase of the recruitment examination for the post of Assistant Teacher of government Primary School started at 11 am on Friday. The recruitment test is being held in the first phase in 22 districts of the country, in which the test is being held in all the upazilas of 14 districts and in some upazilas of eight districts. Also read: Primary Teacher Recruitment: 23 instructions for candidates for the post of primary assistant teacher Around 13,09,461 candidates have applied for 45 thousand assistant teacher posts. The second phase exam will be held on May 20 in 30 districts and the third phase in 31 districts on June 3. At present, there are 65,566 govt primary schools in the country with 4,28,701 vacant teachers’ post.

 

State Minister of Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain on Tuesday said educational institutions are likely to reopen any day in February after 11 months of closure forced by the coronavirus outbreak.

A parliamentary standing comittee on Wednesday formed a sub-committee to investigate the alleged corruption in establishing Bangabandhu Corner at all government primary schools.

The pre-primary education, the foundation of childhood education, is going to be extended to two years from existing one year.