Private Teacher Recruitment to Continue Through NTRCA
The government has decided to retain the existing system for entry-level teacher recruitment in private educational institutions. Under the system, the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) will continue to conduct preliminary, written and oral examinations for teacher registration, issue certificates to successful candidates and recommend them for appointment. At the same time, an earlier controversial decision allowing teachers to be recruited directly through managing committees or governing bodies has been scrapped.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Ministry of Education on Tuesday (September 1). Abdul Khaleq, secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, chaired the meeting. NTRCA Chairman Alif Rudaba, Joint Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division Helaluzzaman Sarkar and other relevant officials attended. A ministry official who attended the meeting said teacher registration examinations and recruitment recommendations would continue under the existing system. The previous decision has been cancelled, and a circular on the matter will be issued soon.
Earlier, a meeting at the Ministry of Education on August 3 had decided that NTRCA would no longer be allowed to recommend teachers for appointment to MPO-listed private educational institutions. Instead, teachers were to be recruited through the institutions’ managing committees or governing bodies. After the minutes of that meeting were circulated on social media, the decision sparked widespread discussion and criticism.
The minutes stated that under the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority Act, 2005, NTRCA would only be responsible for registration and certification. It would no longer recommend candidates for teacher recruitment in educational institutions in accordance with a 2015 circular. The minutes also proposed allowing 9,842 candidates who passed the 18th teacher registration examination to secure appointments at institutions of their choice through their own initiative and through managing committees or governing bodies. The decision triggered strong reactions from various quarters. Students staged protests at several educational institutions, including Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Rajshahi University and Chittagong University.
Amid the controversy, Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Haque Milan had said the discussion and resolution reached at the August 3 meeting did not constitute a final decision. He said the matter would require vetting by the Ministry of Law before being presented to the Cabinet.
