After a long wait, the teachers of schools, colleges and madrasas under Monthly Payment Order (MPO) are going to get the scope of transfer to their selected institutions.
The teachers can apply for transfer if the selected institutions have vacancy or the existing teachers agree to change their institutions.
They can submit application for transfer online during the period between January 1 and March 31 every year.
Education ministry sources said the ministry officials have been working to draft a policy on transfer of the MPO-listed teachers. They already held several meetings in this regard but they need to work more to finalise the policy.
Md Rabiul Islam, Additional Secretary (Secondary-2) of Secondary and Higher Education Division, told The Business Post that they are taking the teachers' transfer issue very positively. “That is why we are working to formulate a draft policy in this regard. We are taking the initiative considering the sufferings of teachers."
He also said, "We plan to check the unethical lobbing for transfer to get rid of ministry's pressure. We will frame the policy only for those teachers who are really facing serious problems. But it needs time."
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni told The Business Post that they will do everything for the sake of welfare of the teachers. She believes that the initiative will help improve the quality of education.
The ministry sources said total salary for secondary level MPO-listed teachers is Tk 16,000 per month. Their jobs are basically second class status. They hardly get some money from the institutions. Now they have no scope to be transferred. It means the teachers have to work at the same institutions until their retirement.
According to the draft policy, the teachers can apply for transfer with the recommendations of the managing committees, upazila, district and divisional offices. Finally, the directorate of secondary and higher education will give the final nod to transfer.
The teachers appointed by the Non-Government Teachers Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) only can apply for transfer. A teacher can change his or her institution only for one time in whole service life.
Applications will not be accepted keeping the institutions' posts vacant. Even if any institution has 50 per cent vacancy, no application also will be granted.
Teachers’ reactions on ministry's move
Nazir Hossain, who works as an assistant teacher at Chongrachari SESDP Model High School in Khagrachari district, said his hometown is in Brahmanbaria and he had to join the school 250 kilometres away from his home. He cannot meet with family members once a month. And it is difficult to live with his family members in the area where he works.
"Actually, I am very happy with the ministry's move to give opportunity for transfer. I can teach the students comfortably if I can get chance to do job in my locality. Even the salary doesn't cover daily expenses," he said.
Md Kamal Uddin, an assistant professor at Anandapur Alim Madrasa in Netrakona, told The Business Post that he got the NTRCA certificate but was appointed by the managing committee. He hails from Bhola, far away from his workplace.
"This is a good initiative of the ministry but it should be for all. Many teachers like me are discharging their duties far away from their hometowns. We are living in a rented house and it is difficult to bear our expenses. It will be easy to live if we get opportunity to do job in my hometown. I believe the ministry will consider our appeal," he said.
Teacher leaders’ version
Md Shanto Ali, convener of Bangladesh Teachers' Forum, told The Business Post that the MPO-listed teachers follow the government's direction which other government employees follow. “We get salary from the government. So, why the MPO- listed teachers will not have any opportunity for transfer?”
"We welcome the recent education ministry's move for transfer. But the same initiative was taken in 2019 that went in vain. I believe the ministry will be sincere this time," he said.
He added: "We have come to know that managing committees' approval is a must for transfer. But it will create difficulties in the whole transfer process. It will be good if the ministry directly handles the process to mitigate the sufferings of applicants."
Md Nazrul Islam Roni, president of Bangladesh Teachers' Association, told The Business Post that the ministry's initiative is good but it must be for all the teachers. The teachers will be financially benefited and the quality of education will be enhanced after implementation of the initiative.
According to the data of Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics, there are about 5 lakh MPO-listed teachers for over 2 crore students at more than 35 thousand educational institutions across the country.
However, more than 62,000 teachers and employees who have retired from non-government educational institutions across the country are now going through a tough time due to a long delay in getting their retirement benefits.
Of them, around 24,000 applications have been pending with NGTEWT. The teachers and employees who applied for the welfare trust benefits after May 2021 are yet to get their money.
Non-government teachers and employees are supposed to get the benefit immediately after retirement. In case a person dies during service, their families should receive the benefit without delay.
But this does not happen in reality. There is no record of any beneficiary receiving retirement benefits on time.
The retired teachers and employees said they are failing to receive retirement benefits even two-three years after filing applications. Even a number of retired teachers waiting for retirement benefits died before getting the benefits due to unusual delay.
