The Bangladesh College Teachers Association (Bakshis) and Bangladesh Principals Council (BPC) have demanded that private educational institutions be brought under semi-government status as an interim measure and gradually nationalised to reduce disparities and improve the quality of education.

They also called for abolishing the existing governing body or managing committee system at private institutions and establishing an independent ‘Education Service Commission’ to ensure transparency in teacher recruitment.

The demands were made at a press conference held at the National Press Club on Sunday (October 4) marking World Teachers’ Day. Teacher leaders, including Principal Mohammad Mazharul Hannan, spoke at the event.

In a written statement, Principal Mohammad Mazharul Hannan said private teachers run 95 percent of the country’s education system, yet there are significant disparities between government and private teachers. As nationalisation requires substantial funds and time, according to the government, he called for private institutions to be placed under semi-government status during the interim period. He said this would also reduce the influence of managing committees, citing Dhaka Residential Model College and RAJUK Model College as examples.

He said private teachers currently receive 100 percent of their basic salary but face disparities in house rent, medical and festival allowances compared with government teachers. He also demanded full retirement benefits and a pension scheme for private teachers similar to those available to government teachers.

Teacher leaders stressed the need to completely stop local-level recruitment and establish an independent ‘Education Service Commission’ to ensure transparency in teacher appointments. They said the existing governing body or managing committee system should also be abolished to curb factionalism and political influence in educational institutions. Instead, they called for private institutions to be run under rules similar to those governing government educational institutions.

The speakers also demanded that permission for establishing educational institutions should not be granted indiscriminately for political purposes. They called for new institutions to be approved on a ‘need-based’ basis following proper surveys to determine actual demand.

They further demanded the introduction of staffing structures in private colleges similar to those in government colleges, inclusion of teachers teaching honours and master’s courses in the MPO scheme following proper scrutiny, and proportional appointment or deputation of private teachers to various positions in the education administration, including the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education and education boards.

They also called for implementation of the 1966 UNESCO-ILO recommendation to protect teachers’ dignity and rights.

Bakshis President Principal Md Ishaq Hossain, BPC President Principal Mohammad Mazharul Hannan and Bakshis Acting Secretary General Elim Mohammad Nazmul Hossain read out written statements at the press conference. Principal Mujibur Rahman Howlader, Principal Sahidun Nahar, Principal Rezaul Haque and Professor Syed Muhammad Yusuf Sumon, among others, were also present.