Nazrul Rajbari Correspondent: Assistant teachers at government primary schools are currently on a full-day strike for the second consecutive day in Rajbari, halting class teaching activities for the third day as they demand three key points, including salary adjustments for the 11th grade. Despite students attending school, they are facing difficulties in receiving instruction.
Although teachers have been present in various schools across the district since Tuesday morning, student attendance has significantly declined in most institutions.
During this period, students who arrived at educational facilities have been participating in sports and other activities in the classrooms due to the suspension of formal teaching. Some students are also opting to return home. A considerable number of students have chosen not to attend school because of the strike. Nevertheless, the official operations of the schools remain unaffected, with teacher attendance in each school reported to be nearly 100 percent.
In the meantime, parents have expressed concerns that their children’s education is suffering as a result of the halted class teaching, stating that the ongoing movement is effectively holding students hostage. This situation is detrimental to their educational progress. Parents are urging that teachers be reinstated in the classrooms promptly, contingent upon the acceptance of the teachers’ demands.Teachers say that assistant teachers of 482 government primary schools in Rajbari are on strike.
They are on a full-day strike on their reasonable 3-point demand. During this time, only class teaching has been stopped and all other activities have continued. In addition, students coming to school have been kept under surveillance. They will work according to the decision from the center.
They said, “We have refrained from teaching according to the central decision. However, we are regularly present at the school and taking care of the students.” He also said, “Assistant teachers have been victims of discrimination for a long time. There is a big difference in our salaries compared to the headmaster and other government employees. We want this discrimination to be resolved.”
Assistant teacher Tahmina Munni of Town Maktab Government Primary School said, “We come to school on time, do other official work. We are only refraining from teaching. We are taking care not to disturb the students.”
Nasima Akter, the head teacher of the same school, said, “We have 8 assistant teachers here. Teaching is suspended as all of them are on strike. The head teachers have to perform additional duties to supervise the students.” Although the strike has caused some disruption in educational activities, the teachers say that the movement will continue until their just demands are met.
