Technical Agriculture Teachers Demand 10th Grade Pay

Teachers with agricultural diploma certificates serving in technical (vocational) branches of non-government educational institutions are expressing frustration and disappointment over what they call a “dual policy” in salary grades. Despite appearing in the same recruitment exam conducted by the Non-Government Teachers' Registration & Certification Authority (NTRCA), they are placed in the 11th grade in technical streams, while diploma holders in general schools receive the 10th grade.

According to sources, candidates with agricultural diplomas and BSc (Agriculture) degrees took the written and viva examinations from the same question paper in NTRCA’s 18th teacher registration exam. After being recommended through the 6th public gazette, they joined various institutions across the country. However, several months after joining, their MPO (Monthly Pay Order) sheets showed they were placed in the 11th grade in technical branches.

Key Complaints

• Diploma holders in schools under the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education and madrasas under the Madrasah Education Board receive the 10th grade, but technical branch teachers are kept in the 11th grade.
• Even agricultural diploma holders working as Trade Instructors receive the 10th grade.
• The 2018 Technical and Madrasah Manpower Structure and MPO Policy (Appendix-ঘ, Serial 9) clearly mentioned the 10th grade for both diploma and BSc (Agriculture) holders. However, the 2020 revised policy downgraded diploma holders to the 11th grade in technical branches.
• A subsequent circular from the Madrasah Education Board classified agriculture as technical but canceled the B.Ed requirement and retained the 10th grade—yet this was not implemented in the technical stream.

Long-Term Impact

Affected teachers say that since diploma holders are not eligible for B.Ed, they are deprived of higher scale promotions throughout their careers. MPO-listed assistant teachers generally receive two higher scales. B.Ed holders can be promoted to the 8th grade, but agricultural diploma assistant teachers can rise only up to the 9th grade at best.

This results in lifelong discrimination in monthly salary (difference of Tk 3,500–4,000), festival allowances, Bengali New Year bonus, annual increment, house rent, retirement benefits, and other financial perks.

Teachers’ Voices

Toma, one of the affected teachers, told The Daily Campus: “We have communicated our problems to NTRCA and the Directorate of Technical Education. They are citing the MPO policy. If school-college MPO policy gives diploma holders the 10th grade, why not us? We took the same exam paper. Many of us scored better than others. Yet we are facing discrimination. This disparity must be removed.”

Mahmudul Hasan, another teacher, said: “In the recently published draft of the 2026 policy, it has been proposed to include both agricultural diploma and BSc (Agriculture) holders in the 11th grade, which has created new anxiety.

We demand the 10th grade as per the 2025 MPO policy for secondary and higher education. Before finalizing the new policy, technical branches should also give diploma and BSc (Agriculture) assistant teachers the 10th grade. There should also be scope to revise the salary grade for already MPO-listed teachers.”

Ministry Response

When contacted, Secretary of the Technical and Madrasah Education Division Muhammad Rafiqul Islam told The Daily Campus: “If teachers with agricultural diplomas under Maushi (Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education) receive the 10th grade, technical teachers will also receive it. There is no scope for discrimination here. I was not aware of this. I will look into it. If such discrimination exists, we will work to remove it.”