Demand made for kindergartens to open by November 1

The National Committee for the Protection of Kindergartens and Equivalent Schools has demanded that the educational institutions be opened by November 1 in compliance with health regulations. 

They made the demand at a human chain held in front of the National Press Club on October 21.

Nearly 1,000 teachers from different schools across the Dhaka Metropolitan areas joined the programme.

The teachers' platform put forward three demands at the programme. They are that kindergartens be opened in compliance with the health guidelines, that financial allocations be provided for some eight lakh teachers involved in the profession and that kindergartens be given the opportunity to assess merit through annual examinations.

Convener of the organisation Mijarun Rahman Sarker said: "Kindergartens do not have a mercenary attitude, nor do the founders of the schools aim to make money through schooling."

The aim of opening such schools is to keep unemployment at bay and contribute to education, he said, adding that many teachers enter the profession for honour, not money. 

The teacher leader said due to closures over months, many schools have already shut down because they are not able to pay their teachers and rent. Under the circumstances, it is not only teachers bearing the brunt of the long closure of schools, the kids are also impacted mentally.   

"Considering all this, we are in pretty bad shape. We want financial support from the government," he added. 

Member Secretary of the organisation M Jahangir Kabir Rana said: "Self-financed kindergarten schools in the country are playing a timely role in the field of education alongside government primary schools. They have also helped remove the unemployment problem to some extent."  

He informed the human chain that at least one crore children study at 40,000 schools. If there were no such private initiatives, the government would have to found 30,000 new schools to ensure cent percent literacy and ensure sustainable development at a cost of Tk100 crore to the government.  

In their address at the human chain, the leaders of the organisation said a total of 14 teachers have so far committed suicide or succumbed to stroke while some teachers have engaged in masonry or farming.  

They added that if the government does not open the kindergartens by November 1, they will be compelled to declare a tougher programme to realise their demand.

Following the programme, the organisation issued a memorandum to the prime minister.

Formed by the joint effort of 21 organisations, Chief Coordinator of the National Committee Md Abdul Oadud, its Adviser Nuruzzaman Kayes, member Iskander Ali Haolader, Adviser and Freedom Fighter Sirajul Islam Khandoker, joint conveners Habibur Rahman and MH Badal, Lion Tazul Islam, Adviser Ahasan Siddique, MA Siddique Mia, Faruk Ahmed, member Abdul Hye, among others, were present at the event.