Confusion Over Transfer Eligibility for Principals: Ministry Clarifies

The revised transfer policy for MPO-listed teachers in non-government educational institutions does not include provisions for transferring principals and assistant principals. Despite rumours circulating on Facebook groups that principals and assistant principals would also be eligible for transfers, the Ministry of Education has confirmed that such claims are false.

The rumours began spreading on Facebook from Thursday, with posts citing the ministry as the source, though no specific official was named.

When contacted, Additional Secretary (Non-Government Secondary) of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Md. Mizanur Rahman, told The Daily Campus: “At present, no transfer facility has been kept for principals. However, they may be included in the future.”

Meanwhile, the ministry has called a meeting to demonstrate the demo of the transfer software for MPO-listed teachers. Sources indicate that final approval for the software could be granted during the meeting.

According to a ministry source, the demonstration of the transfer software will be held tomorrow (Monday) at 11:00 a.m. in the ministry’s conference room. The Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division will preside over the meeting, with Education and Primary & Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon expected to be present.

The same source added: “The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education and Teletalk have worked on the transfer software. They have already conducted trials, and the performance was found satisfactory. We will review it tomorrow. If everything is in order, final approval may be given tomorrow itself.”

Previously, there was no transfer facility for teachers in non-government institutions. Teachers could only change institutions by applying through NTRCA public notifications. While index-holding teachers were eligible up to the third public notification, the ministry discontinued this opportunity from the fourth notification onward.

Following protests by teachers, the ministry took steps to introduce transfers and formulated a transfer policy. However, due to a writ petition by one faction of teachers, delays in software development, policy revisions, and other reasons, the transfer process has not yet started.

Although the revised policy has been issued, uncertainty persists over the launch of transfers due to the pending software. If everything goes smoothly, final approval for the software could be granted tomorrow.