The government has decided to allow experienced and physically fit retired teachers to be appointed in non-government educational institutions to address classroom disruptions caused by teacher shortages.
Under the new arrangement, institution management committees will be able to appoint retired teachers on the recommendation of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). However, the responsibility for paying their remuneration will lie with the respective institutions.
According to relevant sources, teaching activities in non-government schools and colleges are being hampered due to acute teacher shortages, which are adversely affecting students. At the same time, delays in teacher recruitment recommendations by the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) have worsened the situation. The initiative aims to ensure continuity of classroom teaching.
Before the policy was formally introduced, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon conducted a pilot programme in Kachua upazila of Chandpur using retired teachers. Following what officials described as a successful pilot, the government moved to scale up the initiative nationwide.
The minister said the government aims to utilise the experience of retired teachers at different levels of education.
“There are many teachers in our society who want to contribute socially. Their talent and expertise can be utilised at school, college or university level. They want to contribute their knowledge but do not get scope. We want to create that opportunity,” he said.
He added that the initiative would have multiple benefits, including the utilisation of experienced teachers, opportunities for retired educators to contribute to school governance bodies, voluntary engagement in institutional development, and the ability to take classes and share prior teaching experience.
“This is an effort to keep a large group of experienced people engaged in development. It will honour teachers while also utilising their knowledge for society. If we can involve experienced professionals in important educational roles, we will see a positive transformation in institutions,” he said.
On recruitment procedures, Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee President and Dhaka Education Board Chairman Professor Dr. Khondoker Ehsanul Kabir told The Tribune that education boards will not directly implement teacher recruitment.
“Who will recruit and how it will be done is already defined. However, we will maintain oversight over the committees,” he said.
On April 9, the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education instructed the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education to form a pool of retired teachers. The directive was also communicated to education board chairmen, all deputy commissioners, and upazila nirbahi officers for implementation.
Officials said the move was prompted by persistent teacher shortages and delays in recruitment recommendations by NTRCA, which have disrupted classroom instruction. The objective is to ensure smooth teaching activities and improve education quality.
According to the ministry’s official order, a pool of retired teachers will be formed at the upazila level, comprising experienced and physically fit former teachers, under the supervision of Upazila Nirbahi Officers and with approval from relevant managing committees, governing bodies, and ad hoc committees.
Under the guidelines, deputy commissioners across all districts have been instructed to take necessary steps to establish upazila-based retired teacher pools.
For temporary appointments, institutions may recruit teachers from the pool as needed, following approval from the concerned managing committee, governing body, or ad hoc committee, and in consultation with the UNO.
The order further states that remuneration for appointed retired teachers will be borne by the respective institutions, to be met from their essential operational funds. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education has been instructed to issue necessary directives in this regard.