Leaders of primary school teachers yesterday demanded separate primary education cadre service to appoint competent teachers.

They made the demand at a discussion titled 'Primary education and expectation of teachers' organised by Bangladesh Prathamik Shikkhak Samity (Bangladesh Primary Teachers Association) at the National Press Club in the city.

Their ten-point demand also included unitnick system in .primary education, higher pay scale, removal of promotion-related complexity, and involvement of primary teachers in primary educaiipn^relaxed policies. ^ '/V A

"Primary school teachers are the backbone of education but in some cases we fail to show due respect to them. Their salary' is very poor," said Home Minister Sahara Khatun while speaking as chief guest at the discussion.

She said the present government will pay due respect to primary school teachers, but it is a decision that might take several years to implement, she added.

JSD President and member of parliamentary standing committee on post and telecommunication ministry Hasanul Haque Inu, and other Members of Parliament ShaguftaYasmin, Atiur Rahman Atik and Talukder Md Yunus also took part in the discussion.

In a written statement, association Secretary General BM Asad Ullah said there are about 38,000 government primary schools employing about 1.8 lakh teachers who teachaboutonecrorestudents.;

He urged the government to take steps to save primary education and thousands of primary teachers and their families across the country.

He said the primary' teachers are among the deprived professionals who are getting very low salary in comparison to other government staffs.

The salary of a primary school teacher is less than that of an upper division clerk or a driver of a government official, headded.

Association President Wahiduzzaman Mia also spoke on the occasion.