Primary teachers call off strike following finance ministry assurances

Assistant teachers at government primary schools have suspended their ongoing nationwide class boycott following assurances from the finance ministry regarding the fulfilment of their key demands, according to a statement issued by the primary and mass education ministry this evening (10 November).

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The decision came after a meeting between representatives of the Primary Teachers' Demand Implementation Council and the Assistant Teachers' Unity Council with senior officials from the finance and primary education ministries.

Anisur Rahman, convener of the Assistant Teachers' Unity Council — an alliance of eleven teachers' organisations — confirmed to The Business Standard that the movement has been completely withdrawn.

He said, "We had joined the movement in solidarity with the Primary Teachers' Demand Implementation Council. Since they have withdrawn their movement, we have also withdrawn ours in support of their decision."

Meanwhile, the protesting teachers at the Central Shaheed Minar said they will go back to classes only after a gazette on 11th grade pay scale is published.

They said they would not accept the decision until the official gazette is issued.

"We will not end our work abstention or move from here until the gazette is released," a protesting teacher said. 

Another teacher said, "We have no faith in verbal assurances. We want the gazette, and we won't leave the field without it."

Why are primary school teachers protesting?

The teachers have long been pressing for an upgrade in their pay scale from Grade 13 to Grade 10, resolution of complexities surrounding higher grade eligibility after 10 and 16 years of service, and 100% promotion from assistant teacher to head teacher.

As part of their movement, teachers began boycotting classes on Sunday to press for these demands.

At the meeting, chaired by Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder and attended by Primary and Mass Education Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, the finance secretary said the proposal to upgrade assistant teachers to Grade 11 has already been forwarded by the primary and mass education ministry to the National Pay Commission, which is currently reviewing it.

Primary teachers announce indefinite work abstention after police action

"Once the commission's recommendations are received, the Finance Division will take the necessary steps accordingly," he said.

On the issue of higher grade eligibility after 10 and 16 years of service, the finance secretary said that the Finance Division would review the matter once a formal proposal is submitted by the primary and mass education ministry.

The meeting also discussed the demand for 100% promotion of assistant teachers to head teacher positions