End struggles of private school teachers

Teachers' salaries in Bangladesh are already low. The situation for teachers in private schools is no different. With their monthly salary, teachers barely manage to make ends meet. Many of them give private tuitions or engage in small businesses to supplement their income, as their salaries are insufficient to cover basic expenses. In rural areas, many teachers also work in agriculture. This has been the reality for teachers in Bangladesh for as long as anyone can remember. While the country has made significant progress, the condition of teachers has not improved.

The salary of teachers is equivalent to the cost of a single leg of a colonial master's dog. As a result, many teachers spend their entire lives waiting for their pension. They hope that once they receive a lump sum amount, they will be able to address some urgent needs. Perhaps they will repair their house, marry off their daughter, or pay for their or their spouse's medical treatment. However, it is extremely disappointing when their pension is not paid on time even after retirement.

According to a report published in the newspaper on Tuesday (26th November), it has been revealed that over 72,000 private school teachers and employees across the country have not received their pension and welfare allowances for the past three months. As they approach the end of their lives, they find themselves in extreme distress. The information provided indicates that there are about five lakh MPO (Monthly Payment Order) affiliated private school teachers and employees across the country. Their welfare and pension allowances are managed through the Private Educational Institutions Teachers and Employees Welfare Trust and the Private Educational Institutions Teachers and Employees Pension Fund Board.

The offices of the Welfare Trust and Pension Fund Board are located in the Banbeis building in Palashi, Dhaka. Sources indicate that from September 2020 to 31st September of the previous year, 37,000 teachers and employees applied for pension benefits. The audit of the applications submitted until December 2021 was completed. After that, pension benefits were provided for applications up to August 2020. However, due to various complications, the payment for others is still pending.

On the other hand, nearly 35,000 applications have been submitted for welfare allowances so far. Of these, 10,242 applications were submitted between January and June of this year. According to the rules, pension and welfare benefits should be provided immediately after retirement, but due to various reasons, it often takes up to four years, as reported by the affected individuals. Investigations reveal that the Welfare Trust and Pension Fund Board, under the Ministry of Education, is managed by two committees.

By virtue of their position, the Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education serves as the Chairman of these committees, while the Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education holds the position of Vice Chairman. The committee's secretary and other members consist of teachers from private schools, colleges, and madrasas. Over the past 15 and a half years, teacher leaders aligned with the Awami League have been appointed to the committees of the Welfare Trust and Pension Fund Board. However, since the fall of the Awami League government following the student uprising on August 5, most of the teacher leaders have gone into hiding. This has caused the activities of the Welfare Trust and Pension Fund Board to come to a standstill.

While this is considered as one of the main reasons behind the suspension of the allowances, an investigation by journalists has revealed startling information. Sources say that during the Awami League tenure, nearly 1,200 crore taka from the Pension Fund Board and Welfare Trust were moved from government banks by teacher leaders, who, in hopes of personal gain, deposited the money into private banks, including First Security Islami Bank and Citizens Bank. Officials reveal that, due to rampant embezzlement, both banks are facing a liquidity crisis. Most of the depositors have withdrawn their funds.

As these banks are unable to provide the required funds, the committee is unable to disburse the pension and welfare payments to teachers and employees. In response to this situation, the Ministry of Education recently instructed that funds be kept in government banks for transactions, instead of the two private banks. However, due to the inability of the full committee of the Pension Fund and Welfare Trust to convene, the directive for transferring the funds has been stalled. As a result, teachers and employees have not received their payments for the past three months. In light of this, a local proverb comes to mind: "The fox has been entrusted with the henhouse. And indeed, the fox has eaten the chicken.”

What will happen to the affected individuals now? To save the teachers, the government must come forward. We demand that the pensions of retired teachers be paid as soon as possible. No teacher should have to worry about their salary, allowances, or other entitlements. Throughout their lives, teachers have dedicated themselves to building the backbone of the nation. Why should they have to suffer from worries about their pension during their time of rest?