Primary head teachers get 10th grade, what about assistants?

The Ministry of Public Administration has approved a proposal to upgrade the salary grade of primary school head teachers to the 10th grade. However, no decision has been made yet on the assistants' long-standing demand for the 11th grade. They have announced a hunger strike starting October 17 to press for their claim.

A responsible official from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said on Thursday that the ministry is positively considering the assistants' demand. Speaking to The Daily Campus, he said, “Discussions on this have been ongoing from the start. Everyone in the ministry is positive about giving assistants the 11th grade. We hope a good decision will come on this too.”

It is learned that the upgrade for head teachers comes with six conditions, including that untrained heads must complete the Basic Training for Teachers (BTT) within 18 months from the government order date.

The Public Administration Ministry's letter to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education states that 65,502 heads currently in the 11th (trained) and 12th (untrained) grades will be brought under this upgrade.

The letter was sent to the ministry on Tuesday.

Public Administration Ministry Assistant Secretary Md. Shafiqur Rahman confirmed, “Public Administration's work is done; now regional offices are processing. Once untrained heads complete training within the stipulated time, all will move to the 10th grade.”

The assistants have been protesting for the 11th grade entry pay. They are in touch with the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education on the issue.

Central Convener of Primary Assistant Teachers Unity Council and President of Government Primary School Assistant Teachers Association Shamsuddin Masud told The Daily Campus, “We haven't received any update on our 11th grade demand. We're trying to contact everyone. We'll hold an internal meeting today on the October 17 hunger strike and discuss it.”

Earlier, the government primary school assistants postponed their announced indefinite hunger strike due to Durga Puja. Instead of September 26, the programme will now begin on October 17 at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.

In a press release on September 23, the 'Primary Assistant Teachers Organisations Unity Council' announced this. It said all organizations have united to observe the strike together.

An online meeting decided to change the date considering Durga Puja, adverse weather, the Chief Adviser's foreign trip, and ensuring maximum participation for the indefinite hunger strike.

Their three-point demands are: entry pay for assistants at 11th grade; resolution of higher grade issues after 10 and 16 years of service; and 100 percent promotion to head teacher posts.