ACADEMIC activities in primary and secondary schools are disrupted amidst work abstention by teachers and employees. Assistant teachers of government primary schools and employees of secondary schools, on monthly pay order scheme, continue with the work abstention. Government primary teachers, banded under the Primary Assistant Teachers鈥� Association Unity Council, have been on strike for an indefinite period since May 26. They abstained from work for half a day in May 21鈥�25, for two hours in May 16鈥�20 and for an hour in May 5鈥�16. The demands that they push for are an upgrade of assistant teachers to Grade 13, instead of Grade 11, at the entry level, the removal of barriers for the teachers to move to higher grades and a provision to appoint headteachers from among assistant teachers. Employees of secondary schools on the monthly pay order scheme, banded under the Non-Government Educational Institutions Class III Employees鈥� Council held a half-day work abstention on May 28 to protest at an order that says that the amount of their festival allowance would remain unchanged at a half of their basic salary. The employees began full-day work abstention on May 29.
Whilst the work abstention is not held across the board, the movements certainly disrupt academic activities. Secondary schoolteachers on the monthly pay order scheme, demanding the nationalisation of their job and an increase in salary before Eid-ul-Azha, abstained from work on May 22 in protest at the arrest of one of their leaders. The case with institution of higher education is no different as they are yet to get back on a good footing as the institutions still go through hiccups that began in July 2024. After the fall of the Awami League government, the upheaval continued, in cases, students forcing teachers to resign and, in other cases, teachers resigning on their own. The phenomenon spilled over to colleges and even schools, compounding the situation. But the academic activities did not immediately begin although the government started appointing the vice-chancellors in late August. The situation has now given rise to the likelihood of prolonged academic years that might ultimately affect the students of higher educational institutions. The situation leaves the students, from the primary to the tertiary level, in trouble and guardians in despair. The situation warrants early government attention to the issues.
The government should, therefore, sit with the primary schoolteachers and employees of secondary schools, listen to their demands and agree to resolve the issues that are logical and justified. In the case of tertiary education, the government should work in sync with teachers so that students do not further suffer.