‘Complete shutdown’ in 101 primary schools

Teachers in 101 primary schools in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur are observing a ‘complete shutdown’ program to fulfill their three-point demands. They have been observing this program since Wednesday (December 3) morning on the call of the ‘Primary Teachers’ Demand Implementation Council’ to fulfill their three-point demands. The ongoing annual examination has been postponed.
At around 11 am, all the classrooms of the school were seen locked in Jhenaigati Government Model Primary School. All types of educational activities were closed. More than a hundred teachers from various government primary schools in the upazila are sitting in the school grounds. Present at the time were teacher Monowara Begum, convener of the Jhenaigati Upazila branch of Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association, member secretary teacher SM Razan, joint convener Md. Alamgir Hossain and others.
Priyanti, a fifth-grade student of Jhenaigati Government Model Primary School, said, ‘Today we had a Bengali exam. I was preparing very well; Now I have come to know that there will be no exam today.’ A guardian named Nadia Akhtar said, ‘My daughter is in the fourth grade. Today was her Bengali exam; now I have come to know that all educational activities including exams are closed due to the teachers’ agitation. If the exams are not completed on time, then the girl will not be allowed to go to her grandparents’ house.’
Md. Alamgir Hossain, joint convener of the Jhenaigati Upazila branch of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers’ Association, said, ‘As per the central announcement, we are implementing the ‘complete closure’ program in 101 schools of this upazila. Our work will continue as per the further instructions.’
Upazila Education Officer Farhana Parveen said, ‘We have visited several educational institutions. Teachers have not given exams anywhere. They are implementing the ‘complete closure’ program to achieve their demands. The matter has been reported to the appropriate authorities.’