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Editorial

MPO facility for non-govt educational institutions

Nepotism must be wiped out from listing process


Bangladeshpost
Published : 13 Sep 2020 08:44 PM | Updated : 14 Sep 2020 01:46 AM

As a part of its endeavours to improve the quality of life and livelihood of teachers, the government last year listed a total of 2,730 non-government educational institutions across the country in the MPO (Monthly Pay Order) scheme. Reportedly, the teachers of 4,354 educational institutions have been brought under MPO scheme in one decade and more than 4,000 institutions will be listed soon.

MPO is the government’s share in the payroll of the non-government educational institutions. Under the scheme, the government gives 100 percent of the basic salaries to the teachers as well as other employees of non-government educational institutions. 

The teachers and employees also get a lump sum amount as other allowances under the MPO scheme. As per rules, the educational institutions first come under MPO scheme and then the government include the teachers in the payroll. After a suspension for six years by the then BNP regime, the Awami League government in 2010 revived the MPO facility as per its electoral pledge, listing 1,624 private secondary and higher secondary schools and colleges in the MPO scheme. However, since then we have witnessed a number of demonstrations and hunger strikes staged by non-MPO teachers. Against this backdrop, the government has been working to bring more non-government educational institutions under the purview of MPO.


We urge the government to recognise 

education as the building blocks 

of the country’s sustainable 

development and invest accordingly


The protest by teachers to press their demand for MPO facilities gives us a grim picture about their life and livelihood. It is good neither for education nor for the teachers. Teachers play a direct role in shaping the country's future. But the remuneration that teachers are offered is low. Therefore, we must ensure that those who play such a vital role in building the country's future get attractive remuneration which will not only improve their quality of life and livelihood but also encourage brighter minds to take teaching as their profession. We urge the government to recognise education as the building blocks of the country's sustainable development and invest accordingly.

We hope that the government's move to bring more 4,000 educational institutions under the purview of the MPO facility will improve the quality of life and livelihood of teachers and make them able to concentrate more on imparting  quality education.