Muhith says MPO a meaningless programme

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith has said bringing educational institutions under the government's pay roll called MPO is a meaningless programme and just aimed at pleasing the teachers.

The minister expressed his conviction that the monthly pay order (MPO) brought “no benefit” to the schools actually.

Muhith said this to the media at his secretariat office on Monday.

However, about the issue of fresh MPO registration in the election year, the finance minister said, a 1,000 more schools are to be included this year.

There is extra allocation for this in the budget, he pointed out. The schools that are not included in the MPO are also to be allocated funds for equipment and building construction.

The minister made this comment at a juncture when the teachers of non-MPO educational institutions have given the government a 23 June ultimatum demanding MPO, otherwise they would launch tougher agitation including fast unto death.

Protests were held several times earlier by the non-MPO teachers.

There are 7,500 non-MPO educational institutions in the country. Of these, 5,240 have been recognised by the government.