Salary disparity of primary teachers triggers legal case, protests

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Bangla Tribune Report
Published : 09:30, Sep 12, 2019 | Updated : 09:38, Sep 12, 2019

Representational imageDespite a High Court verdict, the salary discrepancy of government primary school teachers is not being settled anytime soon.
The finance ministry has reportedly dismissed proposal of the ministry of primary and mass education to eradicate salary disparity.
In a letter, the finance ministry has informed the ministry of primary and mass education that the salary grades of headmasters and assistant teachers are adequate and there’s no chance for improvement.
In the face of demands by primary school teachers, a promise was made by the state minister for primary and mass education Jakir Hossain, to remove disparity in salary and the teachers also lodged a writ at court.
Based on the writ, the court ordered the salary scale of headmasters to be elevated to tenth grade and made effective from Mar 9, 2014.
Based on the demands made by teachers, a proposal was sent to the ministry of finance on 29 July.
But a finance ministry order, signed by deputy secretary Sadia Sharmin, said that there is no chance to elevate the salary grades of headmasters to 10th and assistant teachers to 12th grade.
The Association of government school headmasters has protested this order. Spokesperson S M Sayeed Ullah, said: “Finance ministry has treated the court with disdain; once we get the court verdict, we will send it to the finance ministry and express our disagreement.”
Secretary of the primary and mass education ministry, Md Akram Al Hossain, said: “We have not received the letter as yet.”
Currently, trained and untrained headmasters are getting salary in 11th and 12th grades, while trained and untrained assistant teachers are getting, 14th and 15th grade salaries.

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