A full-day strike by assistant teachers in government primary schools entered its fourth consecutive day on Thursday (May 29), as they press for reforms to their pay scale, promotion system, and working conditions. 

Amid mounting pressure and disruption across the education sector, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has agreed to hold a meeting with teacher representatives in an effort to resolve the standoff.

Mohammad Shamsuddin Masud, convener of the assistant teachers’ platform Oikya Parishad and president of the Bangladesh Primary School Assistant Teachers' Association, told Banglanews that 12 teacher representatives would attend a meeting with the ministry’s advisor at the Secretariat at 3:00 pm on Thursday. 

The ministry, he said, had formally requested a list of delegates for the discussion.

The teachers have placed a three-point demand, calling for rational reform of the Consultation Committee’s recommendations by upgrading assistant teachers to Grade 11 of the pay scale and declaring their post as the official entry-level position in the primary education sector. 

They are also demanding removal of complications related to the higher grade system after 10 and 16 years of service, and 100% promotion opportunities to the post of head teacher with expedited processing.

Besides, the striking teachers have urged the government to ensure schools remain closed on Fridays and Saturdays in line with current rules and to reserve the Primary Scholarship Examination exclusively for students of government primary schools.

Over the past three days, classes in most primary schools across the country have been suspended as a result of the full-day strike. 

While students have been turning up at schools, academic activities have largely been replaced with recreational activities or remained absent altogether.

According to teachers, they are eager to return to the classroom but insist that the government must meet their demands before they do so. 

If the meeting fails to yield concrete results, they have vowed to continue the strike indefinitely, they added.

According to reports from several upazilas, education officers have submitted official notes to the ministry stating that all teachers in their jurisdictions are participating in the strike. 

Despite warnings, including the threat of show-cause notices, teachers appear undeterred and unified in their action.

The latest phase of protests follows a series of escalated strikes earlier this month. Teachers first began demonstrating by suspending work for one hour daily from May 5 to 15, followed by two-hour strikes from May 16 to 20, and half-day work abstentions from May 21 to 25. 

Since May 26, they have been observing full-day strikes with no clear end in sight until their demands are met.

SMS/