Education Ministry Moves Files Regarding 1st to 12th NTRCA Certificate Holders

The Ministry of Education has officially initiated the processing of files to consider the recruitment of teacher candidates holding registration certificates from the 1st to the 12th batches of the Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). According to ministry sources on Tuesday (April 28), the file has already progressed past the desks of the Deputy Secretary and Joint Secretary.

Sources indicate that the move follows high-level government directives to evaluate the recruitment possibilities for these long-awaiting candidates, and the applications have been moved to the "D-Nothi" digital filing system to determine their feasibility.

A top ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Daily Campus that the file is currently awaiting opinions from the Additional Secretary (Non-Government Secondary) and the Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division. Once their feedback is received, the specific process for their recruitment may be decided.

However, the official noted that several lawsuits involving the 1st to 12th NTRCA batches are still pending, making it challenging to finalize a recruitment process while litigation is ongoing. A final decision will likely require intervention from the highest levels of government.

Following instructions from Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon, NTRCA submitted a summary report to the Minister’s office in March addressing candidates whose age has exceeded 35 years and whose certificates have passed the three-year validity period. The NTRCA summary clarified that under the 2005 Act, certificates for the 1st to 12th batches were issued only as eligibility documents for applications to school managing committees and did not guarantee employment.

The validity of these certificates has fluctuated over the years due to various rule amendments, and NTRCA noted that these candidates had previously applied in four separate national recruitment cycles but remained unemployed due to merit list rankings or a lack of vacant positions.

The recruitment of these batches is further complicated by a history of 166 writ petitions. While the High Court previously issued guidelines, the Appellate Division later scrapped those directions, and a civil review petition is currently pending.

NTRCA has emphasized that before moving forward, the government must resolve 19 modification applications in court and obtain legal opinions from the Law and Justice Division regarding the 35-year age limit and certificate validity. Clear directives from the Ministry of Education to amend MPO policies may be necessary before any fresh recruitment recommendations can be issued for these candidates.