There is no legal or policy barrier preventing MPO-enlisted teachers of private educational institutions from contesting local government elections until their institutions are fully nationalised, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam said Thursday.
He made the remarks at a conference organised by the Shikkhak-Karmachari Oikya Jote at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka.
Expressing support for the nationalisation of private teachers and employees, the state minister said improvements in teachers’ salaries, allowances, pensions and social status had come under the leadership of President Ziaur Rahman and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
He said the demand for nationalising teachers and employees could be fulfilled under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership.
The government has tripled the education budget, he said, adding that the seven-month-old government was working to revive the education sector after being elected through a free and fair election following prolonged protests.
Citing financial constraints, Mir Shahe Alam said a Tk2,000 crore special fund had already been created to provide benefits to around 100,000 teachers who retired between 2022 and 2026.
He said nationalising teachers and employees would require an additional Tk700–800 crore annually.
The state minister also urged teachers and employees to organise a large-scale, disciplined national rally and present their demands to the prime minister through peaceful and democratic means.
He also announced an initiative to promote renewable energy at educational institutions. Under the scheme, the Education Ministry would provide financial assistance to institutions to install 5.5-kilowatt solar power systems on their rooftops.
The initiative would help ensure uninterrupted electricity supply while allowing institutions to sell surplus power to the national grid during holidays and off-hours, potentially generating Tk5,000–10,000 a month for each institution.
