Unregistered Ebtedayee Madrassah Teachers Demand Nationalisation and Pay

Teachers representing non-grant independent Ebtedayee madrassahs have formally demanded the nationalisation of their institutions alongside assured salaries and allowances. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the National Press Club on September 2 by the leaders of the Unfunded Independent Ebtedayee Madrassah General Teachers Federation.

During the press briefing at the National Press Club, the leaders of the federation declared that they will continue an ongoing sit-in protest until their core demands are fully implemented. The federation's leadership, including Maulana Rabiul Islam and SM Masudul Haque, detailed the long-standing grievances faced by teachers across these educational institutions.

Historical context provided during the briefing highlighted that independent Ebtedayee madrassahs first received registration through the Bangladesh Madrassah Education Board in 1984. These institutions are responsible for providing education to students ranging from the first grade through the fifth grade.

Despite their long history, the financial support for these institutions has remained severely limited. In 1994, an allowance of 500 Taka was introduced for independent Ebtedayee madrassahs; however, out of approximately 18,000 madrassahs at the time, only 1,519 institutions were brought under this financial benefit scheme.

Further disparity was highlighted regarding state recognition, as 26,193 private primary schools were nationalised by the government in 2013, while independent Ebtedayee madrassahs were left out without nationalisation or MPO enrollment. In an effort to address these ongoing issues, a memorandum was previously submitted on behalf of the protesting teachers to the Chief Adviser's Office and the Ministry of Education on August 18, 2024.