Primary teachers continue work abstention, threaten to boycott annual exams

Government primary school teachers across Bangladesh have continued their indefinite work abstention to press home their three-point demand, warning that they will boycott the upcoming annual examinations if their demands are not met by Sunday night (30 Nov).

The work abstention, which began on 27 November, involves nearly 350,000 assistant teachers.

As a result, teaching activities have been suspended in more than 65,500 government primary schools across the country.

Speaking on Saturday evening, Md Mahbubur Rahman, one of the conveners of the Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council, said, “We are observing a continuous work abstention. Teaching has been halted in more than 65,500 schools. If our demands are not met by Sunday, we will be forced to boycott the annual examinations scheduled to begin on Monday (1 Dec).”

According to the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE), the country has 65,569 government primary schools employing more than 384,000 teachers—most of whom are assistant teachers.

While head teachers have recently been upgraded to the 10th grade, assistant teachers continue to receive salaries under the 13th grade, a long-standing grievance that teachers have repeatedly raised.

Earlier from 8–12 November, teachers held a sit-in at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.

During that time, clashes with police left over 150 teachers injured.

The teachers later returned to their workplaces following assurances from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the Ministry of Finance.

However, after no visible progress on those promises, they resumed their work abstention.

On 27 November, DPE Director General Abu Noor Md Shamsuzzaman met with the protesting leaders and urged them not to boycott the annual exams.

Teacher leaders, however, said the movement would continue until they receive solid assurances.

“DG sir requested us not to disrupt the annual exams. But given the circumstances, it is not possible for us to withdraw from the movement,” Mahbubur Rahman said.

Another convener, Mohammad Shamsuddin Masud, stated that although the DG said the pay commission was reviewing the issue, their demands are not tied to the commission.

“The finance secretary has already said the government can implement the demands in a single day if it wishes,” he added.

He further noted that improved financial benefits would help enhance the quality of teaching.

“Even if the annual exam is delayed by a week, it is not a problem. Without meeting our demands, the situation will remain uncertain. We have requested another meeting with the finance secretary if needed.”

Primary teachers’ three key demands include: Upgrading assistant teachers’ pay scale to the 10th grade, resolving issues related to higher grade benefits after 10 and 16 years of service, and ensuring 100% departmental promotions.

Although the government has not agreed to the 10th grade outright, it has suggested upgrading teachers to the 11th grade for now.

Teachers say they want the government to implement even that initial promise without delay.