The education system in the country is facing severe disruption due to ongoing movements by both teachers and students. As a result, there is growing concern over a learning deficit among students in the current academic year, with many falling behind in their studies. The disruption includes late book distributions, unrest in educational institutions, teacher protests, and student demonstrations. There is also a notable shortage of teachers, particularly in private schools and colleges. The situation has reached a critical point, with the education sector now at risk of a larger crisis.
Unrest in universities began in June of the previous year when teachers, officials, and employees of public universities went on strike, demanding the cancellation of their inclusion in the universal pension scheme. The strike led to the suspension of classes and examinations. At the same time, the long-standing quota movement for students continued to intensify, spreading to all schools and colleges across the country. With the political situation worsening, further instability followed, resulting in resignations from heads of institutions and a delay in appointing new leadership, including Vice-Chancellors, Pro-Vice Chancellors, and Treasurers.
As a result, two to three months passed without any administrative appointments, and this led to a halt in academic activities. While exams were concluded in schools and colleges, students could not perform to their potential, as many had fallen behind due to the ongoing unrest. These students were promoted to the next class despite a significant learning deficit.
The disruptions have carried into the new academic year, with movements continuing for various reasons, including the ban on student politics in universities. Tensions have escalated, leading to protests, clashes, and interruptions in classes and examinations. Students are now protesting even for minor demands, halting academic activities, and disrupting the regular functioning of educational institutions.
Many of these demands, it is argued, could be resolved through negotiation, but the ongoing protests have become a norm in several universities.
The crisis has been exacerbated by a shortage of teachers. Teachers, too, have taken to the streets with their demands, prioritizing protests over their teaching duties. Over the past seven months, teachers’ organizations have organized sit-ins, hunger strikes, work stoppages, and demonstrations, demanding better salaries and allowances. Law enforcement has had to intervene with water cannons, batons, and sound grenades to break up protests. While many schools and colleges have not experienced protests, there have been delays in book distribution due to the reversion to the 2012 curriculum after the cancellation of the new curriculum for the current academic year.
Government primary school assistant teachers are also demanding higher salaries, with many calling for an upgrade from the 13th grade to the 10th grade. Meanwhile, non-MPO teachers are protesting for inclusion in the MPO (Monthly Payment Order) system, while those already on the MPO list are demanding increased allowances and benefits. Teachers from secondary level educational institutions are pushing for nationalization, while private primary teachers are calling for nationalization as well. Independent Ebtedayi Madrasah teachers are demanding MPO registration.
The ongoing movements by both students and teachers have created a perfect storm of disruption in the education sector. With teachers focusing more on protests than classroom activities and students facing continued unrest, the quality of education is deteriorating. If the movements continue, the learning deficit among students is expected to worsen, and the country’s education system may face even greater challenges in the coming years.The situation remains tense, and stakeholders in the education sector have called for urgent action to address both the administrative and grassroots issues affecting the system. Only time will tell whether meaningful solutions will be found to restore stability to the country’s education system.
Teacher Shortage Disrupts Education as Over a Million Posts Remain Vacant in MPO-Registered Schools: The education system in the country is facing a severe shortage of teachers, with more than a million teacher posts remaining vacant in over 32,000 MPO-registered educational institutions. The shortage has led to significant disruptions in class activities at the secondary school level, affecting the quality of education.
At the beginning of last year, a public notification was issued to recruit 96,736 teachers to fill these vacant positions. However, due to procedural complications, only 23,932 individuals were able to apply, and out of them, only 20,000 were successfully recruited. As a result, 76,000 teacher posts remain vacant, exacerbating the teacher shortage crisis. Furthermore, around 20,000 teacher positions have become vacant in the last one and a half years alone, further deepening the issue.
The vacancies are having a direct impact on the classroom environment, with many schools unable to maintain regular class schedules due to the lack of teachers. The absence of qualified educators has not only disrupted daily classes but is also putting the academic progress of students at risk.
Experts concern: Dr. Manzur Ahmed, Emeritus Professor of BRAC University, highlighted the deep-rooted problems in the education sector, stating that the current government’s failure to address these issues since taking power has worsened the situation. He pointed out that while there has always been a need for reform, no substantial steps have been taken to improve the overall learning environment in universities. According to him, restoring the learning environment should be a priority for the government, and student leaders could play a crucial role in initiating change within universities.
The teacher shortage and its subsequent impact on education raise concerns about the future of the country’s educational system. Immediate steps need to be taken to address the recruitment backlog and ensure that students receive the quality education they deserve. Without a robust plan for addressing these shortages, the disruption in the education system is likely to continue, further affecting student performance and overall academic outcomes.
