Allowances for MPO-listed teachers to rise: Wahiduddin

Outgoing Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud has delivered good news for teachers of Monthly Payment Order (MPO)-listed private educational institutions, announcing an increase in various allowances, including festival allowance, entertainment allowance, and house rent.

"Starting from Eid-ul-Adha this year and continuing into the next budget, we will be able to increase festival allowance, entertainment allowance, house rent, and medical allowance for MPO-listed teachers," the adviser said during his farewell ceremony at the Ministry of Education's conference room today (5 February), reports UNB.

"I am not announcing exact figures yet, but the budget for this year and next year includes provisions for these increases," he added.

Wahiduddin also revealed that a fund is being established for teachers' retirement and welfare benefits.

He explained, "We have already set aside some funds this year, and more will be allocated in the next budget. However, making the fund sustainable will require planning across three to four budgets, not just one or two."

The outgoing adviser highlighted that the retirement and welfare funds had previously been deposited in a financially unstable bank, causing some of the funds to be mismanaged.

He further said, "The most justified demand of MPO-listed teachers is their welfare and retirement benefits. Unfortunately, they are not well-organised and have never protested in the streets. But I have always believed that their demands should be prioritised."

"I had assured everyone that we would try our best to meet the demands within the current and next year's budget, based on financial availability and discussions with the Ministry of Finance," Wahiduddin said.

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