Music, physical education teacher posts cancelled in primary schools

In the face of criticism from religious organizations, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has decided to cancel the newly created music teacher posts in government primary schools. Along with this, the post of physical education teacher has also been cancelled.

The ministry has also revised the original rules issued last August by making some changes in the ‘Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules-2025’.

Masud Akhtar Khan, Additional Secretary of the Schools Division of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, told the media on Monday afternoon: "The gazette of the revised rules has been published on Sunday. Although the previous rules divided the teacher posts into four categories, two have been kept in the revised version. The post of assistant teacher in music and physical education is not in the new rules."

He said: "In the previous rules, 20 percent of the posts appointed on the basis of merit were mentioned for those with a bachelor’s degree in science and the remaining 80 percent for those with a bachelor’s degree in other subjects."

‘Actually, the phrase “in other subjects” was misleading. For 80 percent of the posts, only candidates from science and other subjects can apply—to clarify this, that section has been amended to “Holding a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in science and other subjects.”’

When asked whether the decision to cancel the posts was a result of pressure from religious organizations, he avoided commenting. “You can look into it,” he said.