At least 30,000 headmasters of different primary schools across the country will get the status, salaries and other benefits enjoyed by a 10th-grade or second-class government offices, the Supreme Court declared on Thursday.
The Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed issued the verdict, upholding a High Court order in this regard. Barrister Salahuddin Dolon represented the teachers during the hearing.
On 9 March 2014, the then Awami League government awarded the second-class officer status to headmasters of primary schools. The tenth-grade on the national payscale is applicable for second-class officer.
However, later, the government decided to provide lower salaries under 11th and 12th grades for trained and untrained headmasters respective. The government decided to retain the second-class denomination only as a “prestigious status” for the headmasters.
The disappointed teachers filed a writ in 2019, challenging the government decision. In February, the High Court ruled in favour of the teachers, instructing the government to provide all the salaries and other benefits due from 9 March 2014. The government later appealed the ruling.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
