Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has instructed the authorities to urgently fill the vacant head teacher posts in government primary schools across the country.

During a meeting at the state guest house Jamuna yesterday afternoon (15 July), the chief adviser also directed that alongside promotions, new appointments must be made to address the growing shortage, reports Prothom Alo.

Present at the meeting were Education Adviser to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar; Chief Secretary to the Chief Adviser Siraj Uddin Mia; and Primary and Mass Education Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana, among other officials. The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing shared the information in a press release.

Professor Yunus stressed the importance of prioritising competence in the recruitment process. “We must categorise candidates and give preference to those with long-standing teaching experience. At the same time, young candidates should also be given the opportunity,” he said, calling for a transparent and orderly hiring process.

He instructed officials to coordinate with the Public Service Commission (PSC) and issue a recruitment circular without delay. Additionally, he called for amendments to the current teacher transfer policy.

“Teachers often seek transfers to urban schools after securing a rural posting, using personal connections and lobbying,” he said. “There must be a clear and structured process to regulate transfers so that it is fair and accountable.”

Professor Yunus also raised concerns about whether schools are adequately equipped to meet the needs of female students. “During school building construction, at least one female architect should be on the committee to ensure gender-friendly infrastructure,” he said. He further emphasised that women’s perspectives must be prioritised in planning, design, and implementation.

The chief adviser also underscored the need for establishing internet connectivity and multimedia classrooms in all primary schools across the country.

He inquired about the overall quality of education and asked for a performance evaluation of schools to identify those excelling and those lagging behind.

Adviser Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar noted that although significant funds have been spent on infrastructure, the core objective of improving education quality has yet to be achieved. “We’re ranking schools based on evaluations and launching special programmes for those falling behind,” he said.

He added that in schools performing well, the competence of the head teacher and their relationship with colleagues play a crucial role.

The adviser confirmed that the recruitment process for head teacher positions is already underway.