MPO-listed teachers: What are their demands?
Amid ongoing protests across Dhaka, MPO-listed teachers have once again made headlines with their demands for better pay and benefits. But who are these teachers, and what are they asking for?
Who are MPO-listed teachers?
In Bangladesh, MPO-listed teachers are educators employed at private schools and colleges that receive government funding through the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system.
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Under this system, their salaries are paid directly by the government. The Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) oversees their registration and certification.
While there isn't a central public database of all MPO-listed teachers, many schools and colleges publish their lists online, detailing names, designations, and departments.
The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) also maintains a portal where teachers can register and manage their MPO-related information (emis.gov.bd).
What sparked the protests?
The latest wave of protests began this month after the finance ministry approved raising the house rent allowance of MPO-listed school and college teachers and staff by Tk500.
Previously, they received Tk1,000 per month; the new rate is Tk1,500.
However, the education ministry had proposed a more substantial change: instead of a flat allowance, house rent should be a percentage of the basic salary, ranging from 5% to 20%, with a minimum of Tk2,000.
For context, there are nearly 4 lakh MPO-listed school and college teachers and staff in Bangladesh.
At the current rate, the government spends about Tk470 crore annually on house rent allowance, with Tk357 crore for school teachers and Tk112 crore for college teachers.
Other benefits have also been points of contention. Festival bonuses, previously set at 25% of the basic salary, have recently been raised to 50%, adding an estimated Tk229 crore in annual expenditure.
The teachers' demands
Today, the Alliance for Nationalisation of Education, which is leading the protests, has outlined three key demands:
- House Rent Allowance: 20% of the basic salary
- Medical Allowance: Tk1,500 per month
- Festival Bonus: 75% of the basic salary
The alliance also supports NTRCA candidates who were dropped during the viva voce stage of the 18th NTRCA exam, demanding a review of results and immediate issuance of registration certificates.
Why they are protesting
Teachers argue that despite promises reportedly from Education Adviser CR Abrar, these benefits have not been officially gazetted.
Many believe the current Tk500 increase is insufficient and does not match the assurances made.
As Masud Parvez, a lecturer in Kurigram, put it, "The government is mocking us. We will not return home until the nationalisation demand is met."
Similarly, Habibur Rahman from Rangpur highlighted the disparity faced by educators, "We are the architects of humanity, yet we face discrimination."
The current continuous sit-in follows an ultimatum issued by the alliance on 13 August, demanding the nationalisation of MPO-listed private educational institutions along with increased benefits.
Teachers have reportedly been protesting for these benefits since 2011 and are pushing the interim government to translate verbal assurances into official gazettes.
Government response
An official of the finance ministry told TBS earlier, "Most MPO-listed school and college teachers commute from their own homes, so they do not have much need for a house rent allowance. Still, taking into account the education ministry's proposal, the finance adviser has approved the summary to increase everyone's allowance by Tk500 instead of setting it as a percentage of the basic salary."
Referring to the new pay scale and the added burden of salaries and allowances for MPO-listed teachers and staff, Salehuddin Ahmed said on Tuesday, "My biggest concern is the implementation of the new pay scale and the extra pressure of salaries and allowances for MPO-listed teachers.
"Although the new pay scale will be effective from March-April, the additional salaries up to June will have to be arranged from the current budget."
Besides, the government has recently brought a large number of educational institutions under the MPO scheme, said the finance adviser, adding, this also requires funds to pay the salaries and allowances of their teachers.
