MPO enrolment process for schools, colleges suspended

The Ministry of Education has announced the suspension of the MPO enrolment process for private schools and colleges as the election draws near.

Towards the end of its tenure, the interim government had accepted applications for MPO inclusion and sought budget allocation to enrol 1,719 provisionally eligible institutions. The move would have increased annual expenditure by Tk 670 crore for salaries and allowances of teachers and staff.

However, the government withdrew from the process amid criticism over the rushed initiative in the final month of its term.

Education Ministry public relations officer Khalid Mahmud told journalists on Monday night that the MPO enrolment process has been temporarily suspended during the interim government period.

The Technical and Madrasa Education Division has also suspended the application process despite previously announcing dates for MPO enrolment.

MPO, or Monthly Pay Order, is a government mechanism that allows teachers and staff of private educational institutions to receive salaries from the public exchequer under the national pay scale.

Currently, a total of 31,826 private schools, colleges, madrasas and technical institutions across the country are enlisted under the MPO system.