Non-MPO teachers, employees postpone demo

Teachers and employees of non-MPO educational institutions today suspended their movement demanding inclusion of their institutions in the government’s Monthly Payment Order (MPO) facility.

The decision came following assurance of Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni to help the demonstrating teachers and employees make an appointment with the prime minister to present their demands before her and realise those demands, Principal Golam Mahmudunnabi Dollar, president of Non-MPO Educational Institution Teachers and Employees Federation, told The Daily Star.

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The education minister went to the Jatiya Press Club this afternoon and came up with the assurance to the demonstrating teachers and employees of the non-MPO educational institutions, he added.

Earlier, the teachers and employees under the banner of the federation resumed their sit-in programme on the Jatiya Press Club premises for the fourth consecutive day today and continued their agitation till afternoon before the decision of postponing the demonstration was made upon the education minister’s assurance.

MPO is the government’s share in the payroll of the non-government educational institutions. Under the scheme, the government gives 100 percent of the basic salaries to the teachers of non-government schools. The teachers also get a lump sum amount as other allowances through the MPO.

As per the rules, the educational institutions first come under MPO facilities and then the government enlists the teachers in the payroll.

After a suspension for six years by the then BNP-led alliance government, the Awami League-led government in 2010 revived the MPO facility as per its electoral pledge, enlisting 1,624 private secondary and higher secondary schools and colleges in the MPO scheme.

The rest of the non-MPO teachers have been organising various protest programmes since then.