The severe shortage of headmasters in government primary schools has led to a halt in both direct recruitment and promotion processes due to legal complications. The Public Service Commission (PSC) had initiated preparations for a recruitment exam for 1,122 headmaster positions, but the process has been suspended due to a court injunction. Simultaneously, the promotion process from assistant teacher to headmaster is also stalled due to ongoing legal issues. Consequently, over half of the government primary schools are operating without permanent headmasters.
PSC Chairman Mobashwer Monem stated that a six-month stay order from the court in May has prevented the commission from conducting the exam. He emphasized that the court matter must be resolved before the exam can proceed. The PSC estimates that conducting the exam for nearly 7 lakh applicants would require approximately 11 crore taka and poses significant logistical challenges.
According to the latest data from the Primary Education Ministry, there are 65,457 authorized headmaster positions, of which 34,159 are vacant. This means that more than half of the government primary schools lack a permanent headmaster, severely impacting teaching and administrative activities. The new recruitment rules, finalized last year, mandate that 80% of vacant headmaster positions be filled through promotion, while the remaining 20% are to be filled through direct recruitment.
To be eligible for promotion to headmaster, assistant teachers must have at least 12 years of service experience, complete basic training, and have their employment regularized. However, due to a pending court case, the ministry cannot proceed with these promotions. Primary Education Deputy Minister Bobby Hajjaj expressed hope that the court case would be resolved soon, allowing for large-scale promotions. He assured that the government is giving utmost importance to resolving this crisis.
