Allegations of irregularities, fake academic certificates and fraudulent teacher registration have long surrounded the recruitment and MPO enlistment of teachers in private schools, colleges and madrasas across Bangladesh. According to allegations raised by various quarters, some individuals have secured teaching positions in private educational institutions despite allegedly lacking the required qualifications, with the assistance of influential individuals and concerned parties. Some of them were subsequently enlisted under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system, it is alleged. As a result, job seekers with genuine academic qualifications and valid teacher registration certificates claim that they are being deprived of employment opportunities.
There are also allegations that, in some cases, the academic qualifications, authenticity of certificates and registration certificates issued by the Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) were not properly verified during the recruitment of teachers at private educational institutions.
In some instances, allegations have also been raised that individuals who did not meet the required qualifications were appointed as teachers through political or administrative influence, family connections or financial transactions.
A case involving an educational institution in the capital has recently brought such allegations into focus. According to the complainants, questions have been raised over the minimum academic qualifications of the institution's principal, who is alleged to have had no first-division or equivalent result at any stage of his academic career and to have completed his studies through pass-course programmes.
It has further been alleged that family connections were used to facilitate his appointment as a teacher at the institution and that he was subsequently enlisted under the MPO system.
The individual was later appointed as the principal of the same school and college, according to the allegations. Questions have also been raised regarding the authenticity and validity of his NTRCA registration certificate.
However, none of these allegations can be treated as established facts without an official investigation and verification by the relevant authorities. Therefore, complainants have called for a formal investigation into the individual's academic certificates, NTRCA registration and appointment-related documents.
Educationists and job seekers argue that ensuring merit, qualification and transparency in teacher recruitment is essential. A teacher is not merely an employee; they bear significant responsibility for educating students and shaping the future of an entire generation. Therefore, if an individual secures a teaching position using a forged or fraudulent certificate, it would not only be unfair to qualified job seekers but could also have a broader negative impact on the education system.
The complainants further allege that although allegations of irregularities in teacher recruitment and MPO enlistment have surfaced at different times over the past several years, many of these complaints have not been effectively investigated.
They argue that no individual should receive preferential treatment in the verification of academic qualifications, teacher registration or appointment validity, regardless of political or administrative influence.
Against this backdrop, calls have been made for the re-verification of academic certificates, teacher registration certificates, appointment letters and MPO-related documents of teachers working at MPO-enlisted schools, colleges and madrasas across the country.
Job seekers have particularly demanded separate investigations into appointments where there are allegations that the required qualifications were not fulfilled.
They also argue that if an investigation establishes that a teacher used a forged academic certificate, obtained fraudulent registration or secured employment through an unlawful recruitment process, appropriate legal action should be taken in accordance with the existing laws and regulations.
At the same time, there are demands for investigations into any officials, members of governing bodies or other individuals who may have been involved in facilitating fraudulent appointments or document-related irregularities.
Ensuring fair recruitment opportunities for genuinely qualified candidates is another major concern. According to complainants, if qualified candidates continue to be denied employment while individuals allegedly appointed through irregular means remain in service for years, public confidence in the teacher recruitment system will continue to decline.
However, claims that more than one lakh teachers across the country possess fake certificates, or that a specific percentage of teachers are involved in such irregularities, should not be presented as established facts without verifiable government data or official findings.
Experts say that allegations of this nature require impartial investigation, verification of relevant documents and an opportunity for the accused individuals and institutions to present their statements.
They also suggest that restoring transparency in teacher recruitment requires an integrated verification system covering NTRCA registration, academic certificates, recruitment notices, merit lists, appointment letters and MPO-enlistment records.
According to experts, teachers who are genuinely qualified and were recruited through lawful procedures must be protected, while those found to have committed fraud should face appropriate legal action.
Stakeholders hope that an effective and impartial verification process will help reduce irregularities in the recruitment of teachers at private educational institutions. Such a process, they say, would also create greater opportunities for genuinely qualified candidates and strengthen accountability, discipline and a healthy educational environment across the country's private education sector.