TBM Report
The Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) has directed district education officers to take strict disciplinary action against primary school teachers who participated in a work-abstention program during annual examinations last year. A formal letter issued on February 19, signed by Joint Secretary and Director (Policy and Operations) AKM Shamsul Ahsan, called for department-level measures against teachers involved in the protests that disrupted the evaluation process.
The conflict traces back to November 27, when a section of assistant teachers initiated a strike demanding salary hikes and three additional benefits. The situation escalated on December 1, as teachers boycotted the third term evaluation—the crucial annual exam—leaving thousands of students in limbo. Although the protests were suspended on the night of December 2, the DPE’s recent monthly coordination meeting in January 2026 concluded that the teachers’ absence during a critical academic period constituted professional misconduct.
The DPE’s letter not only demands that departmental action be initiated but also requests information on any existing measures already taken against participating teachers. While the directorate seeks to establish administrative accountability, the move has reignited tensions within the teaching community, many of whom feel their right to protest for fair wages is being criminalized. The upcoming weeks will reveal the extent of the administrative repercussions for those who prioritized the movement over the students’ terminal exams.
