Temporary staffs run NTRCA

The authority was formed more than 10 months back to issue certificates to candidates willing to get teaching jobs in private schools and colleges.

No one has so far been appointed permanently in any of its total 149 posts.

Four top posts including chairman of the NTRCA were temporarily filled up by senior government officials to arrange the first-ever certification test on November 25 and 26 last year.

Presently, the posts of chairman and two members are lying vacant.

Talking to education ministry officials, it was learnt that the first certification test was held with the assistance of the officials and staffs of Dhaka Board.

But the next test has become uncertain as the board personnel will remain busy till July for SSC and HSC examinations.

"We shall have to wait for them to hold another teachers' certification test as the NTRCA still lacks necessary facilities," said Gazi Md Ahsanul Kabir, one senior member of the authority.

He, however, hoped that the NTRCA would not be dependent on other bodies for long citing that the work on filling up of its different posts has progressed significantly.

Meanwhile, there is a growing demand for holding another certification test as early as possible as the first test was held simultaneously depriving many candidates to appear both for school and college certificates.

"It is totally unfair as I am interested in getting both the certificates," said Ashraf Uddin, a candidate of the first test.

He also alleged that the first certification test was held only on 45 elective subjects while there are more than 150 subjects in the syllabus of schools, colleges, madrasas and vocational institutions.

Prof Shaheda Obaed, NTRCA former member (Evaluation and Examination) also acknowledged the limitations of the first certification test.

"We had to arrange the first test within a very short time depending on the voluntary service of the officials and staffs of Dhaka Board," she added.

Prof Shaheda also stressed the need for arranging the second certification test as early as possible as the candidates appeared in the first examination amid various limitations.

Kabir, also the chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), hoped that the NTRCA would be able to arrange the next certification test comprising more than 100 elective subjects.

Thousands of posts in non-government educational institutions have been lying vacant for about a year because of delay in arranging the certification test.

According to Non-Government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority Act 2005 which came into effect on March 20, a candidate must have the NTRCA certificate to be recruited in non- government junior and high schools, colleges, madrasas, technical and business management institutions.