'If the Prime Minister Understands, Why Don't the Authorities?' — Primary Teachers Demand a Narrower Pay-Grade Gap

'The Prime Minister understands — why does my authority not understand? Why do our authorities not understand the words he is saying about raising pay?' — Md Sirajul Islam, policy chairman of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers Association, raised that question over the pay-grade gap between head teachers and assistant teachers of primary schools.

He raised the question at a press conference held on Tuesday at the Shafiqul Kabir auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital. He demanded that the pay-grade gap between head teachers and assistant teachers be reduced.

At the press conference, Sirajul Islam said primary school head teachers were previously in grade 12 and assistant teachers in grade 13, so the gap between the two posts was one step. But after head teachers were upgraded to grade 10 and given gazetted status, the gap widened to three grades. He said this gap cannot be accepted.

Sirajul Islam said the true value of a promise is established only when it is implemented. He stressed making teachers' pay and benefits effective in reality.

Quoting the Prime Minister, the teachers' leader said the head of government has spoken of giving the highest importance to education. In particular, he highlighted the need to give more importance to primary education and primary school teachers. The Prime Minister has also stressed building an anti-corruption mindset in children from an early age to reduce corruption.

According to Sirajul Islam, the quality of primary education will not improve merely by constructing school buildings or increasing budget allocations. Ensuring teachers' working environment and financial comfort is also essential. If teachers have to think of running a shop or farming for extra income to run their households, quality teaching cannot be expected from them — and, he said, such points have featured in the Prime Minister's own remarks.

Questioning the role of the relevant authorities in understanding the need to raise teachers' pay, Sirajul Islam said attention must be paid to teachers' financial and professional condition if education quality is to improve.

Expressing frustration that a primary education cadre has not been established, he said a Primary and Mass Education Ministry division was created in 1992 during the BNP government and it became a full ministry in 2003. Yet the primary education cadre has still not been established.

Criticising officials over teachers' demands and professional future, Sirajul Islam said teachers are being misled on their demand for cadre and gazetted status. Teachers are told they will be able to become director general or secretary in future, but, he alleged, due importance is not being given to the demand for establishing a primary education cadre.

He added that the experience and problems of teachers who have served for a long time need to be considered properly. Officials who come from outside cannot always understand teachers' long-standing hardships, he remarked.

Running through the whole press conference was one central demand — reducing the pay-grade gap between head and assistant teachers and an effective decision by the authorities on teachers' financial and professional dignity. The teachers' leaders are now raising the gap between the Prime Minister's own words and the authorities' conduct as their biggest question.

It remains to be seen whether, after the demands and questions raised at the press conference, the relevant authorities take any step on the pay-grade gap and the long-standing demand for a primary education cadre. The teachers' association says it is waiting for an effective initiative to implement the demands.