Uncertainty has surfaced over Jagannath University’s (JnU’s) B Unit admission test, as the university’s teachers have decided not to participate in the exam to be held tomorrow.
The teachers held a meeting with JnU Vice Chancellor Mizanur Rahman yesterday, where the VC requested them to take part in the admission test, but they have decided otherwise.
“We have chosen to reject Friday’s exam, and have informed the vice chancellor of the issue. It is now left to the university authorities to decide whether or not to hold the exam,” said Ali Nur, president of the Jagannath University Teachers Association (JUTA).
This year, 185,079 aspirants have applied to take the first year’s honours examination at JnU. Among them, 40,634 candidates are set to take part in the B Unit exam of JnU.
When asked, the VC told the Dhaka Tribune the university administration has not suspended its exam.
“There will be an urgent academic council meeting at 10am today,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, teachers from the country’s 37 public universities, under the banner of Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Associations (FBUTA), threatened to stop working from November 1 if their demand for a separate pay scale is not met.
Public university teachers have been protesting the Eighth National Pay Scale since May 14, advocating a four-point charter of demands that include the formation of a commission to initiate an independent pay scale for public university teachers.
Their other demands are salary and allowance parity between senior professors and secretaries, and between professors and additional secretaries; upgrading the status of teachers in the warrant of precedence; and the provision of caxrs and other allowances for teachers, similar to provisions given to bureaucrats.
Meanwhile, FBUTA yesterday evening suspended the JUTA for acting without the FBUTA’s authorisation when JUTA decided to not participate in the JnU entrance examination.