In a deeply concerning move that signals a surrender to religious pressure, the government has officially withdrawn its decision to create new Assistant Teacher posts for Music and Physical Education in public primary schools. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education issued a revised gazette yesterday, effectively cancelling the two crucial posts that were introduced just this past August in the ‘Government Primary School Teacher Recruitment Rules 2025’.
The reversal follows aggressive objections raised by several powerful right-wing religious organisations, whose pressure appears to have trumped the long-term educational and developmental needs of the nation’s children.
Culture and Creativity Sacrificed at the Altar of Religious Politics
The initial decision, gazetted on August 28, to appoint specialised teachers for Music and Physical Education was widely hailed by educators, child psychologists, and proponents of an inclusive, well-rounded curriculum. These subjects are globally recognised as vital for a child’s holistic cognitive, emotional, and physical development.
However, this progressive step was quickly met with a barrage of criticism from groups like Hefazat-e-Islam and Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, among others. Their core objection centered on the claim that appointing music teachers was an “anti-Islamic agenda” and a “conspiracy” to impose an “obscene culture” on the predominantly Muslim population.
Voice of the Critics: Leaders of these religious parties publicly demanded the immediate cancellation of the music teacher appointments, arguing that “90% of the country’s population does not want their children to be taught music.” Instead, they aggressively pushed for the appointment of specialised ‘religious teachers’ in every primary school. For example, Hefazat-e-Islam’s Secretary General Sajidur Rahman earlier stated that “our Sufi-people do not want music in educational institutions… Parents do not send their children to school to learn music.”
A Culture of Capitulation and the Price of Retreat
While Additional Secretary Masud Akhter Khan of the Primary and Mass Education Ministry confirmed the issuance of the revised gazette—stating that the new rules now only retain the categories of Head Teacher and Assistant Teacher, effectively eliminating the Music and Physical Education posts—he refused to comment on whether the change was a result of the religious groups’ criticism, simply saying, “The higher authority knows about it.”
This non-committal response is widely seen as an acknowledgement of the undeniable pressure. For many, the government’s retreat is a deeply concerning cultural and educational surrender.
By giving precedence to dogmatic, sectarian demands over fundamental principles of child development and a modern, inclusive education system, the government has set a perilous precedent. This move threatens to narrow the scope of primary education, hindering the cultivation of critical thinking, creativity, and physical well-being among future generations. A truly secular and progressive state must stand firm against forces that seek to restrict children’s access to the arts and sciences, which are the very foundations of a dynamic, forward-looking society.
The cancellation of these posts is a stark reminder of the persistent and growing influence of religious fundamentalism in shaping key public policy, raising serious questions about the future direction of Bangladesh’s education system and its commitment to an inclusive national identity.
