The Monthly Payment Order, MPO policy, 2018, has been finalized without the provision for age limit in appointment and transfer in the case of madrasa teachers.
According to ministry sources, thirty five, 35, has been fixed as the age limit with facility of transfers for general school teachers.
Additional secretary of technical and madrasa education board, Raunak Mahmud, told Bangla Tribune: “the policy is in final stage; some observations of the finance ministry are being incorporated.”
Another education ministry official said: “the draft has been sent to the secretary and, with his approval, will be released as a gazette by the secondary and higher secondary education department of the ministry of education.”
In order to bring transparency to the appointment of school teachers, the MPO system has been digitized. Under this, applications will be accepted and selection process carried out.
Madrasas will be included in MPO through selection via grading. There is a provision to have the additional secretary for the madrasa division as convener in the selection process.
Talking about the absence of age limit plus transfer for madrasa teachers, additional secretary, Ranat Mahmud, told Bangla Tribune: “the madrasa education policy is different to the general school policy; the age bar has been struck out to appoint experienced teachers.”
Teachers who are settled in one place for a long period will not be happy to accept transfers, added the government official.
The number of MPO included madrasas is 9137; of them, dakheel and kameel are 718; the number receiving government grant is 1519.
The ministry ordered the stoppage of MPO facility to 202 non-existent madrasas. Meanwhile, 96 madrasas with zero pass rates have been given show cause.
On the other hand, teachers of non-government schools and madrasas are carrying on their campaign to be included in the MPO through a till death hunger strike which began on 25 June last.