Teacher organisations demand reopening of educational institutions with health rules

Ten organisations of private school teachers in the country have demanded the reopening of educational institutions in compliance with health rules.

They made the demand at a press conference organised by the "100 % Festival Allowance Implementation Committee" at the National Press Club on Wednesday.

The leaders of the organisations have raised a question as to why educational institutions are not being opened when everything in the country is open in compliance with health rules.

They also demanded a budget allocation for the nationalisation of MPO-enrolled educational institutions and the provision of a 100 % festival allowance.

Jasim Uddin Ahmed, secretary general of the Bangladesh Teachers Association said public transport, private institutions, and shops have all been opened, but why have educational institution not been opened yet?

Saying that the quality of education has gone down due to educational institutions being closed for 14 months, he suggested the government should open educational institutions in compliance with health rules. 

Meanwhile, the government has extended the ongoing vacation of educational institutions till 12 June, announced by Education Minister Dipu Moni at a virtual briefing on Wednesday.

Jasim Uddin Ahmed, also convener of the 100% festival allowance implementation committee, said the attention of students is diverting from reading to online games with so called online classes.

He urged the authorities concerned to shut down online games and provide good quality studying software for students.

In a written statement, he said that since 2014, MPO-enlisted teachers have been given a 25 % festival allowance and other staff 50 %, which is inhumane.  A 100 % festival allowance should be allocated in the next financial year budget.

At the same time, he demanded the allocation of required funds in the budget for the nationalisation of MPO-enlisted educational institutions.

Central leaders of 10 organisations spoke at the press conference and expressed solidarity with the demands.

The organisations are the Bangladesh Assistant Headmasters Association, Secondary School Teachers Nationalisation Liaison Committee, Bangladesh Secondary Vocational Teachers Council, the Bangladesh Educational Institution Employees National Council, Bangladesh Teachers-Employees Nationalisation Forum, the Bangladesh MPO-registered Teachers' Legal Council, and the Bangladesh Islamic Studies Federation. 

Other demands include MPO enrollment of all recognised non-MPO educational institutions, Ensuring MPO enrollment of Honors-Master's College teachers, and to provide special incentives to teachers and students affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regarding the incentive for students, Jasim Uddin said funds should be allocated in the budget in order to bring back students who have given up writing and gotten involved in various activities through special stipends.