Md Abul Hossain has been teaching for 29 years. He has Honours and Masters from the University of Dhaka and began teaching profession in 1990. He is currently acting principal of Wills Little Flower School and College but is unable to become a regular principal.
Like him, many other senior teachers of the country are unable to apply to the post of principal.
Reportedly, this is due to a notice issued by the ministry which states that unless a person has 12 years-experience with three years as an MPO teacher, s/he will not be able to become either a principal of a vice principal.
Since the appointment of principal and vice principal is suspended at non-government colleges, the education institutes are running with people serving as acting principals or vice principals.
The education ministry notice states that as eligibility for the post of principal, a person needs to have Honours and Masters from the recognised university with fist class in either one. No third class will be accepted.
The crisis has taken place since candidates meeting the education requirements plus the work experience with MPO are few in number.
If someone has the education then that person lacks the experience or it’s the other way round.
On the other hand, colleges which has competent candidates do not have vacant posts.
Since third class or division won’t be accepted, those who are working now will not be promoted. Therefore, a crisis may take place in the future.
Additional secretary of the secondary and higher secondary education, Jabed Ahmed, says: “work to amend policy is underway; the recently issued notice will be assessed and then necessary steps taken.”
Many teachers have applied to the secretary of the secondary and higher secondary education board, asking for a solution.
In the application they said that in the MPO rules of 2018, the mandatory MPO inclusion was not imposed. And the 2019 notice stating MPO inclusion as a must is incongruous with the 2018 policy.
The application also underlined that as a result of the new rule, many teachers with more than 20 years-experience are being deprived.