TDS Desk:

Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Thursday announced a plan to recruit more than 100,000 teachers, including 32,500 head teachers for government primary schools and nearly 70,000 teachers and lecturers for private MPO-listed educational institutions.

He made the announcement while speaking at a programme titled “GPE System Transformation Grant (STG) and Multiplier Grant in Bangladesh”, organised by UNESCO at the InterContinental Dhaka.

The minister said the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh had accepted the government’s appeal regarding the recruitment of 32,500 primary school head teachers, paving the way for their appointment.

“I have another piece of good news. We can now appoint 32,500 head teachers in government primary schools,” he said.

He added that the recruitment of nearly 70,000 teachers and lecturers for MPO-listed educational institutions could also be included, describing it as “a major development” for the education sector.

Referring to the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, which began on Thursday, the minister said there had been a notable change in the practice of ministers visiting examination centres.

“Our colleagues apparently believe there is no need for us to visit examination centres. That is why we are all here today. It was not like this in the past. This is a significant change,” he said.

Highlighting the dropout rate at the higher secondary level, the minister said although about 544,000 students enrolled, they were not sitting for the HSC examinations.

He said the dropout rate stood at around 33% in the general stream, 54% in technical education and 44% in madrasa education, describing the figures as a matter of concern.

The minister also warned that wastage of funds allocated to the education sector would not be tolerated.

Recalling his previous tenure as a state minister in 2001, he said the previous government had taken substantial loans and grants for the education sector, but the funds had not been used properly.

Emphasising the importance of quality education, Milon said the government should play a supporting role, while educational institutions, teachers and students should remain at the centre of the education system.

Prime Minister’s Education Adviser Mahdi Amin, State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Boby Hajjaj and Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary Abdul Khalek, among others, attended the programme.