Protests Continue Over Cancellation of Music and Physical Training Teacher Posts in Primary Schools
Political and cultural organisations continued their demonstrations on Wednesday against the government’s recent decision to cancel the newly introduced positions of music and physical training teachers in government primary schools.
In a rally held in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front and Charon Sanskritic Kendra demanded the reinstatement of the posts, calling the decision “a setback for children’s holistic education.”
According to a press release, the speakers alleged that the interim government had bowed to pressure from Islamist groups, leading to the cancellation of the posts. They also criticised the previous Awami League government for similar compromises under the influence of vested interest groups, which they claimed had already altered the national curriculum.
“This repeated submission to extremist pressure will harm the country’s next generation,” the organisers said.
Speakers at the rally further condemned the government’s inability to prevent recent mob violence and the deaths of protesting workers demanding unpaid wages.
The demonstration was presided over by Charon Sanskritic Kendra president Nikhil Das. Among those who addressed the gathering were Samajtantrik Chhatra Front president Mukta Baroi, organising secretary Suhail Ahmed Shuvo, and Charon general secretary Zakir Hossain.
The government, through a notification issued on November 2, abolished the positions of music and physical training teachers by amending the Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules 2025, following criticism from conservative religious groups. Earlier, on August 28, the government had introduced these posts to promote arts and physical education in schools.
Since the decision to revoke them, protests have continued to emerge nationwide from political, cultural, and social organisations, demanding the reinstatement of the posts to ensure balanced education for children.
