Outgoing Education Adviser Promises Increased Allowances for MPO Teachers

Outgoing Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud announced on Wednesday that the government plans to increase various allowances for MPO-listed teachers, including entertainment, festival, house rent, and medical allowances. Speaking at a program in Dhaka to mark the appointment of new Education Adviser CR Abrar, he emphasized the challenges of addressing long-standing disparities in teacher compensation.

Wahiduddin assured attendees that discussions with the Finance Ministry would aim to meet the demands of MPO teachers in the upcoming budget. However, he acknowledged that rectifying 15 to 20 years of deprivation cannot be accomplished in just one or two budget cycles. “It is very difficult to explain,” he noted.

He confirmed that the festival, entertainment, house rent, and medical allowances for MPO teachers would be increased starting from this year’s Eid-ul-Azha and into the next budget. “Provision is being made in this year’s budget and next year’s budget,” he stated.

Acknowledging the call for private school salaries to match government salaries, Wahiduddin remarked, “We need to start. That’s the beginning we’re making,” while also highlighting the complexity of resolving a 15-year disparity within a single budget.

Additionally, he mentioned the establishment of a fund for teachers’ retirement and welfare allowances, with some progress made this year and further allocations planned for the next budget. However, he emphasized that making the fund sustainable would require solutions over the next three to four budgets.

Wahiduddin also pointed out that the retirement and welfare fund for MPO teachers had previously been poorly managed, with funds placed in a bank that no longer holds money. “Welfare allowance and retirement allowance for private MPO teachers are their most legitimate demands,” he said, though he noted a lack of unity among teachers regarding advocacy for these issues. “They never even take to the streets,” he added, indicating that addressing these demands is a priority.