Bangladesh Supreme Court stays ruling on headmaster recruitment

The Supreme Court Chamber Court has stayed the effect of a High Court ruling regarding the recruitment of headmasters in non-government MPO-enrolled secondary schools in Bangladesh. This legal development removes the immediate barrier to conducting oral examinations (viva voce) scheduled to begin on October 15.

The dispute originated from an amendment by the National Teacher Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) which increased the required experience for headmaster positions to 18 years. Forty-six teachers challenged this new requirement in the High Court, which subsequently ruled the amendment invalid. Following an appeal by the state, the Chamber Court stayed the High Court's decision while ordering that 46 positions be reserved for the original petitioners pending a final hearing by the regular Appellate Division bench.

There are currently thousands of vacancies for headmasters and principals across secondary, madrasah, and technical education sectors. The court's order allows the recruitment process to proceed for all other vacant positions as planned.