Classes resume at public varsities

No change in pay scale, maybe adjusted: Muhith

After nine days of complete suspension of classes and exams owing to teachers’ movement across 37 public universities, padlocks on classrooms were opened yesterday and students were allowed to sit on the benches to take lessons from teachers.
For the past nine days, starting January 11, university campuses had worn a dull look in the absence of classes, but on Wednesday, classrooms full of students livened up the atmosphere once again.
Students lauded teachers for suspending the ongoing movement in their interest and hoped that the government will find a solution to their problems, so that students do not face similar trouble going forward.
To cover up for the loss of time, the Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) has taken the decision to take additional classes on holidays (Fridays and Saturdays). However, the case was not similar with all teachers’ associations, as many other varsities have not taken a similar decision to hold additional classes. They said they
will hold meetings to decide on it.
“We have taken the decision to take additional classes to cover up for the loss. We will hold the additional classes on Fridays and Saturdays,” Secretary General of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA), Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal told The Independent yesterday. “The students have lost a lot of time owing to suspension of classes for the last few days. We could take classes. So we have taken the decision to take additional classes,” he added.

General Secretary of Chittagong University Teachers’ Association, Professor Khusrul Alam Quddusi, and President of Islamic University Teachers’ Association (IUTA), Prof Dr M. Amtaj Hossain, told The Independent that they will hold a meeting in this regard. “We are positively thinking about whether additional classes should be taken to cover the loss,” said Quddusi.
Prof Dr Hossain said, “Our classes have started today. As for taking additional classes, our association will sit on Sunday to decide in this regard.”
On the other hand, President of Rajshahi University Teachers’ Association (RUTA), Dr Ananda Kumar Saha, said that there has not been any major loss due to suspension of classes, so additional classes are not necessary to cover up for it.
Meanwhile, university students has supported the decision of taking extra classes. Rakib Kamal, a third-year student of the Communication and Journalism Department of Chittagong University, said, “We are happy today as our classes have resumed after nine days. We don’t want our academic life to be hampered. The government should take steps to resolve teachers’ problem.”
Mubarak Hossain, a first-year student of the Public Administration Department of Chittagong University said, “I am happy at resumption of classes. But again, I am afraid what will happen after February 3, as the teachers warned that they would take the next decision if their problems are not solved by that time.”
Masudur Rahman, a post-graduate student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said, “Earlier, I was anxious about when classes will resume. It’s good that teachers have suspended their movement considering our interest. We expect that the government will resolve the teachers’ movement within the shortest possible time so that our academic lives are not hampered.”
Meanwhile, Finance Minister AMA Muhth yesterday ruled out the possibility of bringing any change in the new pay scale but said there might be some adjustments, adds UNB.
“No change…there maybe only adjustments,” he told reporters responding to a query on the demand of the public university teachers and also some other government and semi-government employees regarding the new pay scale, announced by the government.
Muhith was briefing reporters about the outcomes of his China visit when he attended the launching ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a development bank backed by China.
The Finance Minister said he is waiting for the outcomes of the teachers’ discussion with the Education Minister and the Prime Minister.

Classes resume at public varsities

No change in pay scale, maybe adjusted: Muhith

After nine days of complete suspension of classes and exams owing to teachers movement across 37 public universities, padlocks on classrooms were opened yesterday and students were allowed to sit on the benches to take lessons from teachers. For the past nine days, starting January 11, university campuses had worn a dull look in the absence of classes, but on Wednesday, classrooms full of students livened up the atmosphere once again. Students lauded teachers for suspending the ongoing movement in their interest and hoped that the government will find a solution to their problems, so that students do not face similar trouble going forward. To cover up for the loss of time, the Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) has taken the decision to take additional classes on holidays (Fridays and Saturdays). However, the case was not similar with all teachers associations, as many other varsities have not taken a similar decision to hold additional classes. They said they will hold meetings to decide on it. We have taken the decision to take additional classes to cover up for the loss. We will hold the additional classes on Fridays and Saturdays, Secretary General of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers Association (FBUTA), Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal told The Independent yesterday. The students have lost a lot of time owing to suspension of classes for the last few days. We could take classes. So we have taken the decision to take additional classes, he added. General Secretary of Chittagong University Teachers Association, Professor Khusrul Alam Quddusi, and President of Islamic University Teachers Association (IUTA), Prof Dr M. Amtaj Hossain, told The Independent that they will hold a meeting in this regard. We are positively thinking about whether additional classes should be taken to cover the loss, said Quddusi. Prof Dr Hossain said, Our classes have started today. As for taking additional classes, our association will sit on Sunday to decide in this regard. On the other hand, President of Rajshahi University Teachers Association (RUTA), Dr Ananda Kumar Saha, said that there has not been any major loss due to suspension of classes, so additional classes are not necessary to cover up for it. Meanwhile, university students has supported the decision of taking extra classes. Rakib Kamal, a third-year student of the Communication and Journalism Department of Chittagong University, said, We are happy today as our classes have resumed after nine days. We dont want our academic life to be hampered. The government should take steps to resolve teachers problem. Mubarak Hossain, a first-year student of the Public Administration Department of Chittagong University said, I am happy at resumption of classes. But again, I am afraid what will happen after February 3, as the teachers warned that they would take the next decision if their problems are not solved by that time. Masudur Rahman, a post-graduate student of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, said, Earlier, I was anxious about when classes will resume. Its good that teachers have suspended their movement considering our interest. We expect that the government will resolve the teachers movement within the shortest possible time so that our academic lives are not hampered. Meanwhile, Finance Minister AMA Muhth yesterday ruled out the possibility of bringing any change in the new pay scale but said there might be some adjustments, adds UNB. No changethere maybe only adjustments, he told reporters responding to a query on the demand of the public university teachers and also some other government and semi-government employees regarding the new pay scale, announced by the government. Muhith was briefing reporters about the outcomes of his China visit when he attended the launching ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a development bank backed by China. The Finance Minister said he is waiting for the outcomes of the teachers discussion with the Education Minister and the Prime Minister.