Stop graft in teachers' recruitment DCs urge at conference,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Alleging teachers' recruitment process at non-government educational institutions in the country of "corruption and irregularities", deputy commissioners (DCs) yesterday called for a stop to this practice to ensure recruitment of competent teachers.

They pointed out problems and gave suggestions to this end at the “DC Conference on the Education Ministry and the Primary and Mass Education Ministry” held at the Cabinet Division yesterday, said meeting sources.

A lot of money changes hands during the teachers' recruitment process and such a practice should be stoppes, they added.

Some 16 DCs participated the interactive session with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, Primary and Mass Education Minister Afsarul Ameen and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Motahar Hossain.

The DCs of Khulna, Narshingdi and Kishoreganj districts suggested that a district-based recruitment board or central service commission headed by the DCs can be formed to appoint competent teachers at non-government educational institutions.

Some other DCs suggested following the recruitment process of government primary schools in recruiting teachers for non-government schools.

The education minister informed the DCs that they are undertaking a process to form a separate body like PSC to recruit teachers.

Standard education is being disrupted and corruption is spreading as the people from non-government level are being nominated as the heads of the school managing committees (SMC) or governing bodies of private schools, the DCs said.

They suggested nominating government officials as the heads of the SMCs.

Some proposed to fix a minimum educational eligibility for the heads of the SMCs.

Few DCs opposed the appointment of education cadres in different administrative posts as, they said, this created scarcity of teachers.

Some DCs proposed to be given authority to enquiry into any allegation about educational institutions and take action against it. Previously, they could not take action against any institution despite getting different allegations, they said.

The DC of Netrokona said the rate of stipend recipients in his district is 45 percent while the rate in Mymensingh is 90 percent. He suggested to brining equity in the stipend recipients.

Some DCs suggested giving 100 percent stipends in the haor and baor regions.

Talking to reporters, Nahid said they will consider the issues raised by the DCs.

On nominating government officials as the heads of SMC, he said the head of SMC would be nominated as per the existing rules.