Cox’s Bazar, Sept 03 (V7N) — The process of promoting government primary school assistant teachers to headteacher posts has sparked interest among teachers in Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar. However, several teachers have raised questions over the proposed gradation, or seniority, list to be prepared for the promotions.
The teachers allege that seniority was not properly followed in the past in cases involving the appointment of some teachers, recruitment under development projects, absorption into the revenue sector and the assignment of additional charge as headteachers.
They fear that if the relevant records and information are not properly verified before preparing the new list, genuinely senior teachers could be deprived of their rightful opportunities.
According to sources at the Directorate of Primary Education, the promotion process is moving forward across the country after a long-standing legal complication was resolved. More than 32,000 vacant headteacher posts are expected to be filled through the process.
Under the existing rules, 80 per cent of headteacher posts are to be filled through promotion from among assistant teachers, while the remaining 20 per cent are to be filled through direct recruitment.
Ukhiya currently has 78 government primary schools, of which 17 have vacant headteacher posts. Against 487 sanctioned assistant teacher posts, 429 teachers are currently employed, leaving 58 posts vacant.
Several teachers said those recruited under ADB-funded development projects in 2001 and 2003 were subsequently absorbed into the revenue sector. There had been complications in the past over determining their seniority and other aspects of their service records.
They have called for verification of appointment dates, dates of absorption into the revenue sector and continuity of service while preparing the new gradation list.
Several teachers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said inconsistencies in determining seniority and distributing responsibilities in the past had deprived them of expected career opportunities. They urged the authorities to publish a draft gradation list and allow teachers to submit objections before finalising it.
In 2018 and 2019, 30 assistant teachers in Ukhiya were given additional charge as headteachers. Twenty-six of them are currently still working.
Some teachers have also questioned whether seniority and relevant regulations were properly followed when the additional charges were assigned at that time.
Responding to the allegations, Ukhiya Upazila Primary Education Officer Mohammad Ashraful Alam Siraji said a notice regarding the gradation process had already been issued.
“The seniority list will be prepared strictly in accordance with government rules and regulations. There will be no opportunity for irregularities or forgery,” he said.
The Directorate of Primary Education said teachers would be given 30 working days to raise objections after the gradation list is prepared.
After the objections are reviewed and resolved, the list will be sent to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) through the ministry. Further promotion procedures will proceed after approval from the PSC.
Teachers said that preparing the seniority list transparently and completing the promotions quickly would help reduce the long-standing shortage of headteachers. They believe this would improve both the administrative management of schools and the effectiveness of classroom teaching.
END/MSI/SMA/
