Over 1,500 teachers sans govt's pay roll for years

Over 1,500 teachers and employees of non-government colleges, high schools and madrasas in the district have been serving without monthly payment order (MPO) for years.

At present, at least 67 institutions in the district are eligible for getting MPO. Of them, five are in Sadar, five in Fulchhari, 14 in Sadullapur, four in Palashbari, 15 in Gobindaganj, 15 in Sundarganj and nine in Saghata upazilas.

Getting little financial help from their institutions occasionally, the teachers and staff are having difficulty in maintaining livelihood and consequently, losing interest in their job.

"We have no other option for searching new jobs at present, as we have already passed 18 years of services with the hope of getting MPO," said some teachers of Lengabazar Ideal College in Sadar upazila.

According to district secondary education office, an educational institution should comply with the terms and conditions including location, population, board accreditation, result of public examination and number of students and teachers for enrolling MPO as per government directives. On fulfilling the conditions, an institution can apply for MPO to the authorities concerned.

At least 67 non-government educational institutions in the district are yet to get MPO after submitting proposals through proper channel. The teachers and staff are reluctant to teach students properly amid this adverse situation.

During a visit to some institutions, it was found that Lengabazar Ideal College was set up in 1998 and got permission to start functioning in 1999 and received academic accreditation of the board in 2003. The college is yet to be enrolled for MPO despite repeated appeals to the authorities concerned.

"We have passed a long time rendering sincere education to the children but received very poor amount from college fund and are still waiting for MPO," said Uzzal Kumar, a lecturer of the college.

Over 200 students of the college appear in the public examinations every year and achieve bright results.

We appealed to education ministry for MPO, but no progress was made in this respect, said Mizanur Rahman, principal of the college.

Patoya Mehdibag High School in Gobindaganj upazila was set up in 1998 and got academic accreditation in 2003 but the school is yet to be enrolled for MPO.

Contacted, District Secondary Education Officer Shaheen Akhter said they often forwarded proposals of educational institutions for enrolment under MPO as per requirement but the matter depends on the government's decision.