Pry school teachers go on indefinite strike today

Assistant teachers at government primary schools across the country will go on a full-day work abstention from today for an indefinite period to press home their three-point demand, including fixing their starting salary to the 11th grade of the national pay scale.

Assistant Teachers' Unity Council, a platform of several teacher associations, announced the strike, said a press release signed by the council's convener Mohammad Shamsuddin.

The association said the teachers would continue their protest until their demands were met.

This phase of movement follows the end of a half-day work abstention observed until yesterday.

Earlier, they observed a one-hour work abstention from May 5 to 15, two hours from May 16 to 20, and a half-day abstention from May 21 to 25.

Their demands include revising the recommendations made by a committee which was formed to improve the education sector to ensure that assistant teachers are placed in 11th grade at the entry level.

They are also demanding to resolve complications in availing higher grades after completing 10 and 16 years in service, and are demanding faster promotions, including the promotion of assistant teachers to fill 100 percent of head teacher positions.

Earlier, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education had proposed placing assistant teachers in the 12th grade and head teachers in the 10th grade, based on the advisory committee's recommendations and a relevant court directive.

However, the protesting teachers have rejected this proposal, insisting that their entry-level grade must be the 11th grade. They have warned that they will not return to classrooms unless the government responds positively to their demands.