MPO enrolment process for private schools, colleges suspended under Yunus government

The decision follows concerns over funding and timing as the interim government’s tenure nears its end

The education ministry has suspended the process of bringing private schools and colleges under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme during the tenure of the interim government.

The decision was confirmed on Monday night by the ministry’s spokesman Khalid Mahmud, who said the MPO enrolment process would remain on hold for the time being under the Muhammad Yunus-led administration.

The suspension comes after the ministry had moved to accept MPO applications toward the end of the government’s tenure, a step that triggered questions over the timing and urgency of the initiative.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division had sought budgetary allocation to enlist 1,719 schools and colleges that were initially found “eligible”.

Enrolling these institutions under the MPO scheme would have required an additional Tk 6.7 billion a year to pay salaries and allowances of their teachers and staff.

The government came under fire for “rushing” applications in its final month and has now stepped back from the plan.

The Technical and Madrasah Education Division has also stayed its own enlistment drive, despite previously announcing dates for receiving applications from madrasas and technical institutions.

The MPO scheme allows teachers and staff of private educational institutions to receive salaries and allowances from the government exchequer. Once an institution is listed under MPO, eligible employees are paid according to the national pay scale.

After an institution is brought under MPO, the enlistment of legally appointed teachers and staff is carried out by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, the Directorate of Madrasah Education or the Directorate of Technical Education.

At present, a total of 31,826 private schools, colleges, madrasas and technical institutions across the country are included under the system.

Following more than two months of protests by non-MPO teachers over unpaid salaries, the government amended several provisions and issued a revised MPO policy.

Under that policy, the Secondary and Higher Education Division began accepting online applications from non-MPO schools and colleges from Jan 14 to Jan 25.

During that window, 3,615 private institutions applied for MPO enlistment.

On Feb 3, the ministry formally sought funds to include the 1,719 schools and colleges that were initially assessed as eligible.