Rifat Munir: Education sector, no doubt, has been affected the worst in the recent era, especially during the last two decades.
Constant changing of syllabus, making the students guinea pigs at almost all levels (from primary to tertiary classes), content and format changing according to the wishes and whims of the ruling party have become a regular and natural phenomenon. Even at the middle of the year many students fail to get their books.
But the most significant question lies elsewhere. What about the condition of the teachers, especially those female teachers who play a vital role in the upbringing of the future generations? Are they all getting at least their minimum facilities? I mean to ask what safety net is there from state organs for lady teachers’ job security alongside the remuneration they deserve!
Well, first come with the security of their job, where they work. It is very much vivid and crystal clear that there is no specific rule about pregnant mothers in our country. Pregnancy is the most fragile and vulnerable position for a woman, both physically and mentally. Though in our government and Monthly Pay Order or MPO enlisted educational institutions provide 6 months maternity leave, the private sectors in this case turn a deaf ear to them and sometimes it seems that pregnancy is a curse. Of course, the number of private schools and colleges are not just a few and countless female teachers are serving those institutions as spiritual mothers. They take special care of the kids, join them outside, teach them with utmost care and help them to grow up properly. Now when they get pregnant, as it is a matter of physical and mental issue, they soon turn into worthless to the eyes of the admin, and lose all their dignity and identity as a teacher. What an irony!
On the other hand, some teachers who manage to continue their job till the end fail to get that much support and help from the institution. Most of the academic committees of the private institutions do not allow their female faculty members to give facilities during that crucial period, not even think of their kids..
No political party has yet clarified their position by giving any definite and concrete solution on this particular issue, nor anything we find in their election manifesto. So, what is the ultimate fate of those who develop the mental capacity of a child, meaning spiritually bring them through moral teaching? Will they be deprived forever? Or we should seriously think of these spiritual mothers for the sake of the children they groom for making special future leaders of the nation.
Author studied English literature in University of Chittagong.
