Dhaka, Dec 01 (V7N) – Government secondary school teachers across the country are observing a full-day strike to press home their four-point demands, prompting the suspension of ongoing annual examinations for grades 6 to 10.

The strike began on Monday, following two days of protests and sit-ins in front of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education. Under the banner of the Bangladesh Government Secondary Teachers Association, teachers have intensified their movement over long-standing issues concerning their professional status, salary structures and allowances.

A key demand includes the incorporation of the post of assistant teacher in government secondary schools into the BCS cadre, along with three other reforms related to grading and financial benefits.

Teacher leaders said that if their demands are accepted, the postponed examinations will be rearranged and held on Fridays and Saturdays, with the results still expected to be published by December. However, they warned that the strike will continue if the government does not take immediate action.

Annual examinations in secondary schools began on November 24, but the latest strike has created uncertainty among students and guardians across the country.

Meanwhile, a section of primary school assistant teachers have also gone on strike in several districts, demanding implementation of an 11th-grade pay scale and other reforms. With primary school annual examinations scheduled to begin today, parents and students are facing increasing confusion over whether the exams will be held as planned.

END/SMA/AJ