One and a Half Years Without Pay: Part-Time Teachers in Crisis

The part-time teachers of various departments of Gopalganj University of Science and Technology (GUST) have not received their salaries for nearly one and a half years.

Despite regularly taking classes, conducting exams, and participating in other academic activities, they have not been granted permanent appointments. These teachers say they are enduring extreme financial hardship. The authorities cite a lack of allocated funds as the reason for the crisis.

University sources indicate that part-time teachers were hired to address faculty shortages in various departments. Their remuneration is based on the number of classes they take. They have been teaching for a long time, grading exam scripts, conducting oral exams, and managing other academic responsibilities.

For some, salaries have been stopped since March 2025, while for others, payments have been halted since late 2024.
According to the part-time teachers, they were recruited through the university's designated hiring process and viva examinations. While they received regular salaries initially, payments suddenly stopped at the beginning of 2025. They are struggling to manage their households, and some are now looking for alternative jobs.

Many have already spent four Eids without receiving any pay. One of them said, "We are dedicatedly taking classes to meet the university's needs. But not getting paid for a year and a half has put us in severe crisis. Despite repeatedly contacting the relevant office, we have received no concrete assurances. Sometimes we are told that salaries will be paid once the budget arrives from the UGC. We have been living in this uncertainty for a long time."

A section of students is also concerned about the issue. According to them, the academic activities of many university departments depend on part-time teachers. If salaries remain unpaid, teachers may become demotivated, which could negatively affect the educational environment and quality.

Regarding the matter, Sheikh Moshiqur Rahman, Deputy Director of the university's Finance and Accounts Office, said, "Funds have been allocated from the UGC. I hope that the outstanding salaries of the part-time teachers will be paid within the next week."

The university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Hossain Uddin Shekhar, said, "Most of the part-time teachers here were appointed against posts approved by the UGC. Due to receiving less funding from the UGC than required, it has not been possible to pay their salaries for a long time. Several meetings have been held with the UGC on this issue. I hope that at least a significant amount of the arrears will be paid within this month."