Ensuring an education-friendly environment

THE present government is education friendly. When Bangabandhu government assumed power, primary education was nationalised and in the process 37 thousand and one hundred fifty primary schools of the country were brought under state control. The government of Sheikh Hasina also took several steps for further nationalisation following in the footsteps of her illustrious father. The ruling government nationalised many primary and high schools and colleges, particularly a college in each of those upazilas where there are no government colleges. One school and college in each of those upazilas have been nationalised. In this way 283 colleges are going to be under government control.

But such an excellent and timely move by the present government contributed very little to resolving the conflict between cadre and non-cadre teachers. The teachers of the colleges which were nationalised earlier were given the status of cadres. But unfortunately those of the recently nationalised colleges have not been declared as cadres. A formal announcement by the Prime Minister to this effect is still awaited. Teachers and officers of government colleges who are against the recent government decision feel that if teachers of non-government colleges are given the status of cadres their dignity will be lowered. What they do not realise is that they are not stripped of their positions by the recent government announcement of awarding status of cadres to a group of teachers of now nationalised colleges. The decision was made in broad national interest. We hope the government will do everything to ensure a congenial atmosphere in the education sector and remove all misunderstandings prevailing there.

Shahidul Is1am

Ispahani University College

Keranigonj, Dhaka

[email protected]