Staff Reporter :Primary school teachers have threatened to boycott Primary School Certificate [PSC] examinations if their five point demands, including implementation of time-scale and selection grade, are not realized within a short time.Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Associations [BPTA] issued the threat at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Tuesday.The teachers also announced two-hour work abstention on September 19 and 20 and a full-day work abstention on September 21. Significantly, the agitation programme of primary school teachers came at a time when teachers of the public universities have been demanding a separate pay scale for them.”We have urged the government to ensure our time-scale in line with National Pay Scale and keep the Selection Grade. Besides, we have demanded cent per cent departmental promotion up to director level from the entry post of Assistant Teacher,” General Secretaryof BPTA Anwarul Islam Tota said.Issuing tough warning, the BPTA leader said, “The government must ensure separate pay scale for primary to university teachers. At the same time, the government will have to drive out all complexities about the higher pay scale of Head Teachers which was announced by the Prime Minister. Otherwise, we will compel to announce tougher programme, including boycott of coming PSC examination.”BPTA President Md Abul Bashar, Vice President Zulfiqar Ali, Joint Secretaries Gaziul Hoque Chowdhury and Abul Kashem were present at the press conference.At present, hundreds of posts of head teachers remained vacant due to halt of promotion for pay scale complication since 2009, which ultimately hampering educational atmosphere in different educational institutions, according to teachers.Meanwhile, the PSC and Ebtedayee terminal examinations will begin from November 22. The tests would end on November 29. The PSC examination system was introduced in 2009 for the primary students. The following year, Ebtedayee tests were introduced. Results are being published in grade system since 2011.
