Teachers’ allowances should be increased in line with market conditions

After eight days of continuous protest over three demands, including an increase in house rent allowance, the government has agreed to raise the house rent for MPO-listed teachers and staff of private educational institutions by only 5 per cent, with a minimum increase of Tk 2,000. However, rejecting this proposal, the teachers on hunger strike have announced a fast unto death. According to the Ministry of Education, this 5 per cent rise in house rent allowance and the addition of a minimum Tk 2,000 per month will increase most teachers’ and employees’ housing allowances by more than 12 per cent. This information was given in an explanation posted on the official Facebook page of the Ministry on Sunday. Currently, teachers receive Tk 1,000 as house rent allowance.

Media reports state that the teachers had demanded 20 per cent of their basic salary, or at least Tk 3,000, as house rent allowance. They remain firm on that demand. Responding to the Ministry of Finance’s circular, Principal Delowar Hossain Azizi, Member Secretary of the Alliance for the Nationalisation of MPO-Listed Education, said that the 5 per cent allowance increase was the initial success of their movement. But until the government issues notifications for a 20 per cent house rent allowance, Tk 1,500 medical allowance and 75 per cent festival allowance, all their programmes will continue.

On 30 September, the government raised the house rent allowance by Tk 500 to Tk 1,500. Now, if it is increased again by 5 per cent, no one except principals and vice-principals will receive any significant benefit. According to available data, if the house rent is increased by 5 per cent with a minimum of Tk 2,000 per month, 89 per cent of teachers and staff will see an increase of more than 7–8 per cent, 56 per cent will see an increase of 12 per cent, and 75 per cent will see an increase of more than 9 per cent.

Given the current reality, a 5 per cent increase is almost a mockery. The government’s announcement fails to meet even the minimum expectations of employees. Their rejection of it is therefore normal and reasonable, since such a small rise will do nothing to ease the rising cost of living. Allowances should be determined in line with living costs and inflation rates. Official statistics show inflation currently hovering around 9–10 per cent. In such a situation, a mere 5 per cent increase will neither improve purchasing power nor living standards, meaning teachers’ neglected lives will remain unchanged. The government should urgently reconsider this decision.

It should announce a realistic and fair increase in allowances that reflects the current economic reality and respects teachers’ standard of living. Otherwise, teachers’ anger may affect students as well. It must be remembered that this movement by teachers is an expression of frustration, not rebellion. The government should have made a prudent and just proposal, taking into account the realities of teachers’ lives. Investment in education is an investment in the future. Indifference towards teachers sends a harmful message for the next generation. We call for teachers’ allowances to be increased in keeping with current market conditions.