The police verification for the recruitment of assistant teachers in government primary schools is nearing completion. However, following this, the National Security Intelligence (NSI) verification will commence. This is the first time NSI verification has been included in the recruitment process. Meanwhile, the selected 14,384 candidates are increasingly anxious as their final results were announced four months ago, yet they have not been able to join due to ongoing new conditions being added. The candidates have submitted a memorandum to the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) demanding a clear roadmap and training before joining schools.
According to field-level information, police verification in districts like Lalmonirhat, Thakurgaon, and Tangail is in its final stages. Tangail's Additional Police Super (DSB) Kazi Shahnewaz told Prothom Alo, 'We have received necessary information from the District Primary Education Office. We are currently conducting police verification for 197 job candidates. The police department is conducting this investigation with utmost seriousness.'
Lalmonirhat District Police's DIO-1 (DSB) SM Manjure Mawla told Prothom Alo, 'We are conducting verification for 230 finally nominated candidates in the district. Our work is now in the final stages. The police verification report will be submitted within the next couple of days.'
However, even though the police verification at the field level is complete, candidates are not yet receiving their appointment letters. This is because the newly added intelligence verification process will begin next. DPE Director General Shaheena Ferdousi told Prothom Alo on Thursday, 'The entire assistant teacher recruitment process is being conducted according to the ministry's directives. Police verification in the districts is in its final stages. After the police verification, the National Security and Intelligence Agency (NSI) will conduct another verification process. Only after these two verification processes are successfully completed will the joining process for the selected teachers begin. They will then undergo training, and after the training, they will be finally posted.'
It is noteworthy that the final results for the assistant teacher recruitment were announced on February 8. A total of 14,384 candidates were temporarily recommended for assistant teacher positions. Their health examinations (including dope tests) and verification of all documents were completed between February 22 and March 1.
Sources from the ministry and department indicate that a set of new policies is being adopted for the job stabilization of new teachers. The first two years after joining will be considered a probationary period. Job stabilization after these two years will depend on four key factors: a favorable police verification report, a satisfactory NSI verification report, successful training outcomes, and demonstrated work efficiency during these two years. Only if all four aspects are positive will the job be stabilized.
Earlier, on May 3, at the Osmani Smriti Milanayoton in Dhaka, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milan told reporters that more than 14,000 stuck candidates would be appointed very soon. No one from this list would be excluded, but there would be some conditions for the appointments. The minister clarified, 'The candidates' qualifications for teaching will be checked. After issuing the appointment letters, they will be sent to PTI for training. If anyone fails there, they will not be able to become a teacher. Everything is being done to ensure the quality of primary education in the country.'
Due to these new rules and prolonged delays, the 14,384 recommended candidates are experiencing extreme anxiety and concern. Four months have passed since the final results, and many are facing economic crises due to their inability to join their workplaces. According to his colleagues, a recommended candidate from Nilphamari district recently suffered a severe heart attack due to the anxiety of not getting the job.
An unnamed candidate from Dhaka district told Prothom Alo, 'We were selected based on our merit. We left our previous jobs in anticipation of this appointment and are now in severe financial distress. We are anxious about our future due to the constantly changing rules.'
Another unnamed candidate said, 'Previously, posting would happen immediately after joining, and teachers would undergo training in stages. Now, it is being said that posting will happen after training. We are strongly demanding that our recruitment process be completed according to the previous rules.'
In this situation, the recommended teachers have submitted a memorandum to the DPE Director General. In the memorandum, the candidates demand the swift completion of the recruitment process according to the established rules. They mention that ensuring posting and joining in the designated schools before training is consistent with the dignity of a candidate. Additionally, the candidates have sought a clear explanation from the department regarding the legal basis, necessity, and timeframe of the newly added NSI report. Considering the prolonged waiting period of the candidates, they have strongly demanded the authorities to publish a clear and time-bound 'roadmap'.
