The government will soon begin promoting teachers to the post of head teacher in government primary schools, allowing thousands of long-vacant positions to be filled, Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon said on Tuesday.
The minister made the announcement while responding to a question from MP Khairul Kabir Khokon during the 24th sitting of the second and first budget session of the 13th National Parliament, chaired by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal.
In his written question, Khokon noted that more than 34,000 head teacher posts in government primary schools are currently vacant. He sought to know when the vacancies would be filled and whether the provision in the Teachers Recruitment Rules requiring 80% of head teacher posts to be filled through promotion was being implemented.
Responding, the minister said a writ petition related to promotions to the post of head teacher had recently been disposed of by the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, clearing the way for the promotion process.
"As the legal hurdle has been removed, promotions to the vacant head teacher posts will begin shortly," he said.
Milon said the previous recruitment rules allocated 65% of head teacher posts for promotion, but the revised rules have increased the quota to 80%.
He said the promotion process had remained suspended due to litigation following the introduction of the new rules. With the case now resolved, 80% of vacant head teacher posts will be filled through promotion in accordance with the revised recruitment rules.