Government secondary school teachers have launched a full-day strike from today, suspending ongoing annual examinations, to press for four key demands related to their professional status and benefits.
The Bangladesh Government Secondary Teachers Association (BGSTA) outlined the primary demands as follows: the inclusion of assistant teacher posts in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) cadre, prompt promotion and appointment to vacant positions, approval of pending time scales and selection grades, and the continuation of salary increments and associated benefits.
A press release from the BGSTA indicated that if the government meets these demands, teachers have agreed to conduct the remaining examinations on weekends and announce results within December. However, if the demands remain unmet, the strike is expected to continue indefinitely.
The strike follows a sit-in protest held on Sunday, during which teachers voiced longstanding grievances regarding professional recognition, promotion delays, and salary concerns. As no resolution was reached during the protest, teachers have escalated their action to a full-day strike across government secondary schools nationwide.
| Issue | Teachers’ Demand | Status |
|---|---|---|
| BCS Cadre Inclusion | Include assistant teacher posts in BCS | Pending |
| Promotions | Prompt promotion and filling of vacant posts | Pending |
| Time Scales & Selection Grades | Approval of pending scales and grades | Pending |
| Salary & Benefits | Continuation of increments and allowances | Pending |
| Exams | Suspension of ongoing annual exams | Suspended until demands met |
The strike has disrupted the academic schedule in several districts, with students and parents expressing concern over delays in examination completion and result announcements. Education authorities are monitoring the situation and have called for dialogue with teacher representatives to seek a resolution.
BGSTA officials emphasised that the strike is a measure of last resort, undertaken after prolonged negotiations failed to yield satisfactory responses from the government. They have urged authorities to address the issues promptly to minimise further disruption to the academic calendar.
TSN