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The importance of education in building a nation is immense. Education is the foundation of the nation. Teachers are responsible for building this foundation. They show the way to build a beautiful life by teaching ethics and morality along with developing talent. That is why teachers are called craftsmen of building people. Today is a special day for them.
Today (October 5) is World Teachers' Day. Since 1995, World Teachers' Day has been celebrated on this day in every country that is a member of the United Nations Organization UNESCO. The day is celebrated to protect the honor of teachers and commemorate their contribution to society.
Meanwhile, like other countries in the world, the day is also celebrated every year in Bangladesh. World Teachers' Day has been officially celebrated for several years.
In 1993, the decision was taken to celebrate October 5 as World Teachers' Day at the 26th General Conference of UNESCO held in Paris. Then, the day was celebrated for the first time in 1994. Since 1995, 'World Teachers' Day' has been celebrated in different countries. With the approval of UNESCO, the day has been celebrated with a different theme every year.
Due to low salaries, deprivation of positions, harassment over pensions and crisis of social status of teachers in Bangladesh, they are being forced to leave the classroom and take to the streets. As a result of this deprivation, the country's education system is reaching the bottom.
Those concerned say that the development of the nation is not possible without increasing the standard and status of teachers. But after independence, no government has thought of education and teachers in that way. That is why poverty has not gone away in primary, secondary and higher education. It is against this reality that World Teachers' Day will be celebrated in the country today, Sunday (October 5). The theme of this year's day is - 'Teaching Profession: The Light of Joint Efforts'.
There are thousands of teachers in the country who are still teaching without salary. The nominal salary paid in madrasas is not enough to make a living. On the other hand, although the primary education system is in a sense governmentized, the salary of these teachers in our country is the lowest in South Asia.
93 percent of secondary educational institutions are outside governmentization. In such a reality, MPO-affiliated teachers are going door to door to get their accumulated pension money for 4-5 years after the end of their service life. There are many universities in the country at the private level, where the salaries of teachers are lower than those of primary teachers. Again, excessive politics and aversion to research in public universities are practically raising big questions about the higher education system as well.
The foundation of a child's education is laid in primary schools. But the teachers who create that foundation are still third-class employees. The salary is grade 13. On the other hand, a driver who has only passed the eighth grade is grade 12. The basic salary of government primary school teachers is 11 thousand taka and the total salary including house rent and medical allowance is about 19 and a half thousand taka.
The salary of government primary school teachers in Bangladesh is the lowest among South Asian countries. The average salary of primary school teachers in this country is 170 dollars and 2 cents, which is about 62 dollars less than the average monthly income per capita in the country.
Primary school teachers say that almost all teachers are burdened with debt. Because a teacher cannot support his family properly with this salary. Teachers in the island nation of Maldives receive the highest salary. The average monthly salary of primary teachers in the country is about $953.13, which is almost five times that of Bangladesh. Even in Pakistan, the average salary of teachers is $206.7, and in Sri Lanka, it is $250.44. In India, teacher salaries vary by state and subject.
A review of data from organizations that maintain data on salary structures in different countries around the world shows that the average monthly salary of teachers in India is $284.64. In addition, the average monthly salary of primary teachers in Bhutan is $341.72 and in Nepal $467.45. In Bangladesh's neighboring country, Myanmar, the average salary of teachers is $189.22.
There are about 380,000 primary assistant teachers across the country. They have raised various demands in the past to protect their dignity; but they have not been met. They often hold road blockades, hunger strikes, and class boycott programs demanding an increase in the salary structure to the 10th grade.
Convenor of the Central Committee of the Primary Assistant Teachers' Organization Oikya Parishad, Mohammad Shamsuddin Masud, said that teaching is a prestigious and honorable profession in almost all developed and developing countries of the world. In addition to state honor, teachers are also paid a higher salary. Teachers receive various facilities and benefits from the state in addition to financial benefits. As such, the state has not yet been able to provide the salary grade and status of primary school teachers in our country. That is why teachers have not yet been able to occupy a position of honor in society.
At the secondary level, MPO-registered teachers are entering their working life with a salary of only 12,500 taka. Along with this, they receive nominal house rent and medical allowance. Even after waiting for years after retirement, the pension money is not received. This crisis in the salary and status of teachers has created deep wounds in the education system.
MPO-registered teachers have been agitating for a long time demanding nationalization. Although a government portion is added to their salary, the government allocates a nominal amount as house rent. Currently, a visit to a doctor in a private chamber costs 1000-1500 taka, while the teachers are paid only 500 taka per month for house rent. This has created a kind of dissatisfaction among the teachers. However, the good news is that the Ministry of Education has taken the initiative to reduce the teachers' house rent by 20 percent.
Principal Delwar Hossain Aziji, member secretary of the Nationalization Alliance, said, "Teachers in private secondary schools and colleges live in extreme hardship. Look at the hardship of the teachers.
রোববার, ০৫ অক্টোবর ২০২৫
Published : ০৫ অক্টোবর ২০২৫
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