Cultural Activists Demand Creative Subjects and Reinstate Music, Physical Education Teachers in Primary Schools

Cultural activists on Saturday urged the government to introduce more creative subjects — including music, performance arts, and sports — at the primary education level to build a creative and globally aware young generation.

They also condemned the recent government decision to abolish the positions of music teachers and physical training instructors in primary schools, calling it a politically motivated move. The activists demanded immediate reinstatement of these posts.

The call came from a musical march organized by Samageet in the capital, which began at the Central Shaheed Minar and ended with a short rally at Shaheed Noor Hossain Chattar in Gulistan.

Addressing the rally, singer Kazi Krishnokoli Islam recalled that Gurusaday Dutt initiated the Bratachari Movement to promote physical, moral, and spiritual development among the youth during the anti-British movement. “We need more creative subjects for our children to help them grow into global citizens,” she said.

Singer Farzana Wahid Shayan criticized the cancellation of the posts as a “political decision,” adding that an interim government should refrain from making such moves.

Chairing the rally, Samageet member Amal Akash criticized the government for insufficient investment in education, saying, “It is inappropriate for a democratic country not to prioritize education.” The event was moderated by Bithi Ghosh and attended by filmmaker Akram Khan, photographer Amirul Rajiv, and others.

Separately, cultural organization Chhayanaut held a musical gathering in front of its Dhanmondi auditorium, urging the government to reconsider the decision to scrap the posts for music and physical education teachers at the primary level.

Meanwhile, a faction of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi announced a 15-day nationwide protest program during a press conference at the National Press Club on Saturday. Another faction announced a “Gaaner Michil” (Musical March) from the Udichi central office on Topkhana Road to the Chief Adviser’s official residence, Jamuna, today.

The government, through a notification issued on November 2, abolished the posts of music teachers and physical training instructors in primary schools by amending the Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules 2025. The decision followed criticism from Islamist groups. Earlier, on August 28, the government had introduced two new assistant teacher positions — one for music and another for physical training.

Since the cancellation, various political and socio-cultural organizations have staged protests demanding that the decision be reversed.