Dhaka: The government is going to bring some amendments to the existing rules relating to selection and appointment of non-government teachers to ensure transparency in the appointment and improve the quality of education, reports BSS.

Non-government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) of the education ministry has taken the initiative to amend some sections of the “Holding of Non-Government Teachers Registration Exam and Certification Rules 2006” for incorporating proposals, including fixing up year-wise number of vacant posts and selection of candidates based on it, officials sources said.

The NTRCA is also actively considering introduction of viva voce exam, preparation of upazila, district and nation-wise merit lists from among the selected candidates and appointment of teachers as per the merit list of the exam rules, they added.

A top official of the education ministry said a number of amendment-proposals have been made taking opinion of the teachers, academics, SMC/GB leaders and experts. The process is at the final stage and expected to be made effective soon.

Talking to BSS, education secretary Md Nazrul Islam Khan (N I Khan) said the amendment to the “Holding of Non-Government Teachers Registration Exam and Certification Rules 2006” has become inevitable in the interest of improving quality of education as well as making it time-befitting.

According to sources, there are 19,000 non-government secondary schools, 3,500 colleges and 9,500 madrashas across the country and meritorious candidates are being deprived of getting appointment as teachers in these educational institutions due mainly to political influence, irregularities and corruption.

“Eligible teachers are required for ensuring quality of education and only the selection of candidates and their appointment as teachers on merit basis can ensure the quality of education,” Khan observed.

Under the existing examination rules, Khan said candidates come out

successful who obtain 40 percent marks in two subjects separately but they

are not enlisted according to their merit. “This makes more candidates to

pass than the number of existing vacant posts,”

“As the number of vacant posts is limited, many candidates with less-calibre sometimes manage to get appointment as teachers by applying illegal ways or means,” Khan pointed out.

The education secretary said the school managing committee (smc) and the governing body (gb) of the non-govt. educational institutions will look into the matter of appointing teachers for their respective school/college based on the merit list.

“The merit-based appointment of non-government teachers in the educational institutions will not only help improve quality of education but also bring transparency in recruitment process,” Khan opined.

Chairman of NTRCA Ashish Kumar Sarker said the NRTCA will conduct exams like Public Service Commission (PSC) in three phases-preliminary, written and viva- voce for the selection and appointment of quality teachers.