Major Promotions Coming For BCS Education Cadre

Promotions are set to take place in the BCS General Education cadre for professors, associate professors, and assistant professors. According to sources from the Ministry of Education, the promotions will occur in phases: first from associate professor to professor, then from assistant professor to associate professor, and finally from lecturer to assistant professor.

On Wednesday, September 18, a meeting of the "Departmental Promotion Committee" (DPC) was held at the Ministry of Education to discuss promotions for professors. Another meeting is scheduled for Saturday, September 21.

The Ministry reported that during Wednesday's meeting, a list of 1,949 individuals was presented for promotion from associate professor to professor, covering positions from the 16th to 22nd BCS. This list includes officials expected to retire in 2025 and comprises various positions such as principals and vice-principals in colleges. However, the final number of promotions has not yet been confirmed.

Officials from the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (MPO) indicated that appointments in the education cadre are based on subjects, and promotions are also recommended on that basis. A list of eligible professors for promotion has already been submitted to the Ministry. Preliminary discussions about the promotions from associate professor to professor took place on Wednesday, with further discussions planned for the upcoming meeting.

In March 2023, 686 individuals were promoted to the rank of professor. The Directorate has proposed promotions for all associate professors from the 16th to the 22nd BCS. The government will not incur additional costs for promoting everyone up to the 22nd batch. Currently, they are receiving a salary in the fifth grade under the national pay scale 2015, which includes a five percent increment each year.

Many education cadre officials have been waiting for promotions for years, even though they meet all the requirements. Some batches have remained in the same position for over a decade and a half, leading to frustration and embarrassment among college teachers. Officials from the Ministry and MPO note that while other cadres receive batch-based promotions, the education cadre follows a subject-based promotion system.

Officials state that promotions for the associate and assistant professor positions will begin after those for professors. The Ministry aims to complete promotions in these three categories within the current year.

When asked, Professor Dr. Rezaul Karim, acting director general of MPO, stated that Wednesday's DPC meeting included introductory discussions and preliminary talks. The final number of promotions will be determined in future meetings. Currently, it is unclear how many individuals will be promoted, and promotions have been proposed for associate professors from the 16th to 22nd batches due to financial constraints.