Primary teachers withdraw movement as govt promises 11th grade benefits

Bangla Press Desk:   Primary school teachers cancelled all forms of protests on Monday night after government officials assured them of providing improved financial benefits under the 11th grade of the national pay scale.

The teachers had been demanding an upgrade to 10th grade from the existing 13th grade.

Khairun Nahar Lipi, convener of the “Primary Teachers’ Demand Realisation Council,” announced the breakthrough in negotiations, while addressing the media following a meeting with government officials at the Secretariat.

Notably, Lipi is also an assistant teacher at the Mohammadpur Government Primary School in the capital.

The government delegation at the meeting included: Finance Division Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder, Primary and Mass Education Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, and others.

The primary school teachers had been protesting for the past few days by organising sit-ins at Central Shaheed Minar and observing work boycotts throughout the country.

Their three demands were: upgrading their status from 13th grade to 10th grade on the national pay scale, removing hurdles in reaching higher grades after 10 years and 16 years in service, and ensuring 100% divisional promotion to headmasters from the rank of assistant teachers.

BP/SP