Proposal on Increasing Primary School Teachers’ Salaries Submitted to the Ministry

ফাইল ছবি

News Desk: The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has submitted a proposal to raise the salaries of assistant teachers in government primary schools by two grades, upgrading them to Grade 11. If implemented, the additional annual expenditure would be approximately Tk 831.91 crore.

According to ministry sources, the proposal was formally sent to the Cabinet Division on November 4. Previously, the same proposal had been submitted to the Finance Division.

The ministry’s proposal states that the workload and quality of work of assistant teachers have significantly increased compared to the past. Since approval has already been given to upgrade head teachers’ salaries to Grade 10, the ministry considers it reasonable to upgrade assistant teachers’ salaries to Grade 11. Currently, assistant teachers are paid at Grade 13; under the proposal, upgrading to Grade 11 would increase each teacher’s salary by several thousand taka on average.

A ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the proposal was made in consideration of teachers’ legitimate demands and professional dignity. The final decision will be made after approval from the Finance Division and the Cabinet Division.

Meanwhile, teachers are staging demonstrations at the Central Shaheed Minar under the banner of the Coordination Council for Implementation of Grade 10, demanding three points:

1. Payment of salaries for assistant teachers at Grade 10,

2. Permanent resolution of complexities regarding higher grades,

3. Guaranteed 100% departmental promotion from assistant teacher to head teacher.

According to the Directorate of Primary Education, approximately 384,000 teachers are working in 65,567 government primary schools across the country. Due to the ongoing strike, teaching has been completely halted for a second consecutive day in these schools.

Earlier, on April 24 of this year, the government upgraded head teachers from Grade 11 to Grade 10 and teachers in Grade 13 to Grade 12. However, assistant teachers raised complaints of inequity, prompting renewed protests.