Govt primary teachers launch complete shutdown

Assistant teachers of government primary schools across the country have launched a complete shutdown from Wednesday (3 December) to press for their three-point demands. They have locked numerous schools, causing ongoing annual examinations to be halted.

At the same time, assistant teachers are holding protest rallies in front of Assistant Thana Education Officers (ATEO) offices. However, reports indicate that in some primary schools in Dhaka and other divisional cities, examinations are still taking place.

The teachers are observing the programme following a call by the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council. Mahbubur Rahman, coordinator of the council, told Jago News that the teachers are participating in the shutdown spontaneously. “All schools in the country are closed. This programme will continue until our demands are met,” he said.

According to the Directorate of Primary Education, there are currently 65,569 government primary schools nationwide, employing over 384,000 teachers, the majority of whom are assistant teachers.

While head teachers in primary schools have been promoted to Grade 10, assistant teachers are currently receiving salaries and benefits under Grade 13. This disparity has caused dissatisfaction among assistant teachers, who have long been campaigning for grade promotions.

From 8–11 November, the teachers staged a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. During the protest, over 150 teachers were injured in police actions. Following assurances from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Ministry of Finance, teachers returned to classrooms.

However, as no progress has been made in implementing those assurances, they resumed their work stoppage on 27 November and have boycotted the annual examinations that began on 1 December.

The assistant teachers’ demands include salary adjustments to Grade 10, resolution of grade issues after 10 and 16 years of service, and 100% departmental promotion. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has so far rejected the direct assignment of Grade 10, recommending Grade 11 instead. Teachers are now demanding immediate implementation of this Grade 11 assurance.