Annual exams underway amid primary teachers' work abstention, students in a quandary.

Daily Bijoy News, Cumilla Correspondent:

Due to the work abstention by government primary and secondary school teachers, annual exams could not be held in most schools across the country for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday (4th December). Parents are frustrated as a critical educational activity has come to a standstill at the end of the year. They complain that the work abstention during such a sensitive exam period is jeopardizing the students' future. While many support the teachers' justified demands, they believe that if the movement had been carried out before or after the exams, students would not have been harmed. Although government secondary school teachers have suspended their work abstention, government primary school teachers have announced that their strike will continue. As a continuation of this, the work abstention by primary teachers is ongoing in Burichang upazila of Cumilla, like the rest of the country.

On-the-spot inspections revealed that while the 3rd terminal assessment exams are being conducted, classrooms are largely empty of teachers. Due to the absence of teachers, students are having to take exams in an unusual environment with the help of the headmaster and the school committee. Despite the teachers' work abstention, the exam activities are regularly proceeding under their supervision. This initiative has earned praise from students and parents. Although most teachers on strike are unwilling to speak to the media, one female teacher said, "If the government had considered our demands earlier, such a situation would not have arisen across the country today."

Regarding this, Burichang Upazila Primary Education Officer Fowzia Akhtar said, "We are regularly in touch with the teachers. No unpleasant incidents have been reported from any of the 149 primary schools in the upazila. Exams are ongoing." She further said, "I request parents not to keep their children away from the exams. No one will face problems regarding promotion to the 6th grade or passing the exams." Conscious citizens of the society say that it is the state's responsibility to ensure that students are not harmed in any way due to the teachers' movement. The education sector must be kept free from any kind of political or administrative discord. Otherwise, the future generation will suffer.

.Daily Bijoy News/ Md. Abdullah