The government has long been striving to ensure quality education by providing stipends, free textbooks, and other educational materials. However, the desired improvement in educational standards has yet to be realised.
A study, titled “National Assessment of Pupils of Grades Three and Five - 2006”, conducted under the Second Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-II) and published in 2009, revealed that approximately 70 per cent of students who complete the five-year primary education cycle are unable to read, write, or count proficiently.
Further research by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in 2019 highlighted that only 49 per cent of Bangladeshi students aged between 7 and 14 possess basic reading and numeracy skills. Alarmingly, only 3.7 per cent of these students have access to three or more books other than their textbooks at home.
The seventh National Student Assessment (NSA), conducted by the Directorate of Primary Education in 2022, found that more than 60 per cent of Class 3 students and 70 per cent of Class 5 students lacked the expected grade-level proficiency in mathematics. Additionally, 51 per cent of Class 3 students and 50 per cent of Class 5 students were below grade-level proficiency in Bangla.
Education experts and teachers' leaders assert that the government's goal of ensuring quality education cannot be achieved without addressing issues related to teachers' dignity and salaries.
They said that teachers in Bangladesh are still classified as third-class employees in both designation and salary, which is among the lowest in the world. The situation is particularly dire for teachers in the privately-run primary and secondary educational institutions.
Primary and secondary school teachers across the country are struggling to survive on inadequate salaries, leading many to leave the profession altogether.
An assistant teacher in non-government high schools, which are typically listed under the monthly pay order (MPO) scheme, receives Tk 12,500 per month, with 10 per cent deducted for retirement benefits. Additionally, the teacher receives Tk 1,000 for house rent and Tk 500 for medical expenses.
An assistant teacher in a government primary school, classified under Grade-13 of the government wage board, earns only Tk 17,500 per month, while a head teacher makes Tk 19,000.
Although both primary and secondary teaching positions require a three-year degree or an honours certificate, other professions requiring only a high school certificate offer equal or higher starting salaries.
Abul Bashar Howlader, president of the Bangladesh Teachers’ Union, told The Business Post that they have been advocating for increased salaries and improved grading for a long time. Last year, they even staged a 22-day sit-in protest in the capital.
"When we start agitating, the education authorities come to us with promises of salary increases, but we have yet to see any results. Teachers are enduring very difficult times, unable to cope with daily expenses. At least 90 per cent of teachers are covering their family expenses by borrowing money from financial institutions or individuals," he said.
"The new curriculum demands substantial effort from teachers. However, teachers are not motivated to impart knowledge due to the poor salary structure. Even secondary teachers are still classified as third-class employees. The government must increase salaries if they want to improve education in the country," Howlader added.
Mohammad Shamsuddin Masud, president of the Bangladesh Primary School Teachers' Association, echoed these sentiments, stating that teachers are unhappy both at school and at home. "It is impossible for a primary school teacher to survive on just Tk 17,500. Ensuring the quality of education is a nightmare with such poor salaries. We have organised many programmes advocating for salary increases for better education but to no avail."
"Teachers are the architects of a nation's future. It feels great to be in this profession, but pride does not pay for food or rent, does it?" he asked.
Kamrul Hasan (an alias), a secondary school teacher in Bhola district, told The Business Post that the government last raised salaries in 2015. Over the past nine years, inflation has soared, making it nearly impossible to live on the current salary. "How can we teach students when we ourselves are hungry?" he asked.
Sweety Akhter, a teacher at an MPO-listed high school, shared similar struggles. "I have to bear all the family expenses, but with a salary of Tk 13,000 to Tk 14,000, it is impossible to manage. I sometimes consider leaving the profession," she said.
Sources within the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education reported that the government appointed 898 head teachers through the 34th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations and 350 through the 36th BCS. All were non-cadre, class-two government employees. Significantly, at least 60 per cent of them have left their positions to take up other government jobs, some even accepting roles of the same status.
Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Kindergarten School and College Oikya Parishad, noted that many teachers have switched professions because the owners of educational institutions offer very poor salaries. Those who teach in privately-run institutions are enduring extremely difficult times due to financial shortages.
Professor Nehal Ahmed, director general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), acknowledged the need for salary increases. "We will initially propose to the finance ministry to increase recreational benefits for the teachers," he said.
Bangladeshi teachers' position in the world
The average salary of a primary school teacher in Bangladesh is a mere $170, which is approximately $62 less than the country's average monthly per capita income.
According to the World Population Review, in terms of primary school teachers' salaries, Bangladesh ranks 45th among Asian countries and 7th in South Asia.
In comparison, the average salary for teachers is $206 in Pakistan, $250.44 in Sri Lanka, $284.64 in India, and $189.22 in Myanmar.
Singapore leads in primary school teacher salaries among all Asian countries, with an average monthly salary of $4,203.
Globally, the World Population Review shows that Luxembourg leads with a minimum monthly salary of $5,984 for primary school teachers. Germany is in second place, where teachers earn a minimum of $5,799.91 per month, followed by Switzerland, where the minimum monthly salary for teachers is $5,079.
Teachers' plight after retirement
Non-government teachers and employees in Bangladesh are supposed to receive their benefits immediately after retirement. In cases where a teacher dies during service, their families should receive the benefits without delay.
However, this is far from reality. There are no records of any beneficiary receiving their retirement benefits on time.
Retired teachers and employees report waiting two to three years after filing applications to receive their benefits. Tragically, some have died before receiving their dues due to these unusual delays.
Over 62,000 teachers and employees who have retired from non-government educational institutions across the country are now enduring significant hardship due to prolonged delays in receiving their retirement benefits.
Of these, around 35,000 applications are pending with the Non-Government Teacher Employee Retirement Benefit Board (NGTERBB). Those who applied for welfare trust benefits after May 2022 are still waiting for their money.
Additionally, 27,000 retired teachers and employees are awaiting their benefits from the Non-Government Teachers and Employees Welfare Trust (NGTEWT).
Sharif Ahmed Sadi, member secretary of the Non-Government Employee Retirement Benefits Board (NGERBB), told The Business Post that the government has not allocated sufficient funds for the retirement board. "We now need at least Tk 3,000 crore to resolve all the cases," he said.
"It is very painful when a teacher comes and breaks down. We have been urging the government to pay the teachers' benefits on time, but no progress has been made yet," he continued.
"I am here only to distribute the funds. I cannot do anything if the government does not allocate the money," he added.
Md Shahjahan Alam Saju, member secretary of the welfare board, denied allegations of mismanagement, stating that his board is transparent in distributing the welfare fund. However, he acknowledged facing a funding crisis.
"We need at least Tk 2,000 crore to pay all the teachers," he said.
What education experts say
Professor Emeritus of BRAC University Dr Manzoor Ahmed emphasized that teaching is a prestigious profession, yet in the national pay scale, primary school teachers are placed at a very low level, which is a matter of concern. "The government should increase the salaries immediately without hesitation if they want quality education in the country," he said.
Professor Dr Siddiqur Rahman, former director of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University, told The Business Post that it is both unexpected and shameful for the nation that teachers are classified in third-class positions with poor salaries.
Primary teachers have historically struggled for living wages since the emergence of Bangladesh. The salary of primary teachers was Tk 135 per month until 1973, after which nationalisation saw a salary hike to Tk 230. It remained the same until 1977 and was increased to Tk 430 in 1985.
In 2005, head teachers were placed in the 13th grade and assistant teachers in the 15th grade. Although in 2016 head teachers became entitled to the 12th grade, the grade for assistant teachers did not change.
There are a total of 1,33,901 government and non-government primary schools across the country, employing 6,23,964 teachers. Of these schools, 67,000 are government institutions staffed with about 4,00,000 teachers.
Currently, there are 6,00,000 teachers and employees at 29,164 MPO-listed high schools, colleges, madrasas, and vocational education institutions in the country.
