It is discouraging to note that the process of giving approval of monthly pay order (MPO) facilities to some 2,736 educational institutions have not yet been over due to various complexities especially lack of goodwill of the authorities concerned. A meeting of the Ministry of Education held around two months ago to finalize the name of the institutions that will be given approval for MPO. But hitherto it has not been able to publish the final list of those institutions.
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 of non-government schools. The teachers also get a lump sum amount as other allowances through the MPO.
There should not be any nepotism, political
influence or regional discrimination in the
process of MPO enlistment
As per the rules, the educational institutions first come under MPO facilities and then the government enlists the teachers in the payroll. After a suspension for six years by the then BNP-led alliance government, the Awami League-led government in 2010 revived the MPO facility as per its electoral pledge, enlisting 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 strike made by the rest of the non-MPO teachers. Against this backdrop the government has now planned to bring more non-government educational institutions under the purview of MPO.
Teachers protecting for being enlisted under MPO facilities gives us a very grim picture about their life and livelihood. It is neither good for education nor for the teachers. Also there have been gross irregularities regarding the inclusion of MPO of the non government educational institutions. Inclusion of MPO depends on development of the infrastructure and the number of students and results. But unfortunately, using political influence, institutions of lower standard have been enrolled in the MPO list while better ones have been left out.
There should not be any nepotism, political influence or regional discrimination in the process of MPO enlistment. In 2010, educational institutions that were preferred by powerful ministers and parliament members were allegedly enlisted in the MPO. This means the institutions were enrolled due to political influence rather than qualification. This should not be repeated.
