Gazette delay leaves 225 headteachers’ fate in limbo

A total of 225 headteachers of various government primary schools, who were appointed to BCS non-cadre posts, could not become gazetted officers despite the High Court’s verdict. They have been going from door to door to be gazetted for over six years due to conflict between the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. 

Source said, PSC recommended recruitment of primary school head teachers to non-cadre posts in 2016 due to shortage of cadre posts of 34th BCS. In this case, according to the Recruitment Rules 2010 (Amended-2014), it was supposed to recommend appointment to the first or second class gazetted posts. However, contrary to the rules, the appointment of headteachers was recommended for Class III and non-gazetted posts, setting a negative precedent in PSC history. Furthermore, individuals who were lower on the merit list were later appointed to second-class gazetted posts."

According to PSC sources, those appointed as assistant teachers (10th grade gazetted posts) in secondary schools, as well as chemists and inspectors (10th grade gazetted posts) in the Ministry of Forests and Environment, recommended by the 34th BCS, were on the next merit list for headteachers. Since they were recruited later, they will attain the status of 9th-grade first-class officers within 9 years. On the contrary, headteachers are getting a salary for 12th grade, even though they hold a second class (10th grade).

Meanwhile, the headteachers, who joined the service at the end of October 2017 under the pressure of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, repeatedly appealed to the Chairman of PSC, the then Minister of Primary and Mass Education and the Secretary in this regard, but did not get a solution. Later in 2018, 225 head teachers filed a writ petition with the High Court.

In December of that year, The High Court ordered the appointment of the petitioners to the position of Assistant Upazila Education Commissioners (now Assistant Upazila Primary Education Officers) with second-class gazetted rank under the Ministry, or to equivalent posts. When the government and PSC appealed to the High Court against the judgment, the full bench of the Appellate Division ordered action to be taken by upholding the judgment of the High Court. However, the petitioners alleged that the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education and the PSC are delaying the implementation of the judgment on various pretexts. However, 1000 posts are vacant against 225 posts of assistant upazila primary education officer or equivalent. As a result, neither the PSC nor the Ministry should face any issues in implementing the verdict. 

The president of the 34th BCS Non-cadre Headmasters’ Association and headmaster of Naogaon Government Primary School in Naogaon Sadar, Mejbaul Haque, said that despite the PSC, the Ministry, and the Directorate acknowledging the discrimination, no one has stepped forward to address it. Finally, the full bench of the Appellate Division gave a direction to eliminate the discrimination. However, it has been mired in bureaucratic complications for a long time.  

In this connection, the Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Farid Ahmed, said that the PSC chairman has been asked to implement the order given in view of the application made by the non-cadre head teachers in the High Court. PSC can inform us by talking to finance department. We also want the 225 head teachers to be promoted to second class and 10th grade.

PSC Chairman Sohrab Hossain told Jago News that this incident occurred before I took charge. I can’t say what happened with it later. If the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education views it positively, we will also respond positively. I will look into the matter and see what can be done.