Sudhir Baran Mazi: Nothing in this universe is permanent. Everything is changing, dynamic. Except for the post of college physical education teacher only. whose beginning and end are at the same place. Day after day, month after month, year after year, age after age. But we are stuck in the same place in the net of unethical rules. We are employed as physical education teachers in colleges. Our title is physical education teacher. Recruitment for the post of physical education teacher, working in the post of physical education teacher and retiring from the post of physical education teacher. Which is gross negligence and injustice towards us. It is shameful and also humiliating for us. Those who join secondary school with the same qualification get promotion to assistant head teacher, head teacher and other posts but we who are appointed as physical education teachers in college have no promotion opportunity.

As much trouble as we have. Prior to 2018, college level physical education teachers were grade III and paid grade II. And now through the case, according to the order of the Hon`ble High Court, the physical education teachers of the college level get second class rank and second class pay scale. While there is a provision for promotion to the post of Assistant Professor in the College, there is no provision for promotion in the case of Physical Education posts. As far as I know, at present, almost 90% of the teachers working as physical education teachers in the college have completed their post graduation in physical education.

With less qualifications than those in other departments, they enjoy much more privileges and status than college physical education teachers with only three years diploma after SSC. As many obstacles, as many complaints about physical education teachers. No one cares about us, no one thinks. Thinking for us will not only benefit a few of us teachers, but the whole society, country and nation will benefit from it. The role of physical education and sports and physical education teachers is very important in building a physically and mentally healthy nation. In every national event, a physical education teacher plays a more important role than others. They develop national consciousness among students, instill patriotism, create unity among students. For the physical and mental development of our children and the national development of the nation, more physical education is needed in schools and colleges. The key to a long and happy life is physical education and sports. Physical education and sports should be on par with institutional classes. Physical education is basically life education.

General education is not complete without physical education. Physical education teaches to protect oneself, to choose the right partner, to accept defeat and prepare to win anew. It imparts knowledge on nutrition, health, first aid along with leadership development through sportsmanship. Physically and mentally healthy youth are needed to build an economically prosperous nation to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Having all these qualities, every citizen of the country is well-intelligent and can avoid mere emotions and develop into a healthy, strong and responsible citizen. Physical education helps people to acquire these qualities. With the demands of time, we also demand to introduce physical education and sports as a complete subject, establish the status of the teachers of this subject, make provision for the promotion of teachers. The teachers will be respected as well as the nation will grow physically and mentally healthy. Even though BPD, Honors and Master`s courses are running at the higher education level of our country, physical education and sports are still neglected at the school and college level. Introduction of physical education subject at college level has now become the need of the hour. Physical education is a kind of science.

Which is developing and prospering every moment. But the college teachers of this subject are staying at the same place. College physical education teachers with evolving and enriched knowledge need promotion and adequate training with new techniques. We know Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his entire family are sports loving, dedicated and patronized by sports. At present, Bangabandhu`s privileged daughter, the mother of humanity, Sheikh Hasina, also loves sports very much and gives utmost importance and support to sports. It was during his time that the sport flourished the most. And just at this time physical education and sports will be neglected, neglected at the school and college level, it is really unfortunate for us. We see that in almost all countries of the world, physical education and sports have been kept compulsory in educational institutions for the purpose of building a healthy nation. A physical education teacher at the college level performs the administrative functions of the college, maintaining the discipline of the students efficiently. Apart from Bengali, English and ICT subject teachers, the physical and sports teacher is the only teacher who is equally known to all the students.

 A physical education teacher not only teaches students about sports, he also teaches students about health, environment, quality of life, acceptance of defeat and fresh start to win. He teaches the students how to be big people, how to dream and to work with integrity and efficiency to fulfill their dreams. He also teaches students to be patriotic, give leadership, how to persevere in danger, honesty, ethics and values. A physical education teacher plays an important role in an educational institution. He is well known to all the students of the institution as a friendly teacher with good manners and personality. Students can fearlessly reveal many of their personal strengths and weaknesses that other teachers may be hesitant to share openly. And we physical education teachers are so unfortunate that no one hears our cries and cries. No one understands the bleeding of our hearts. There is no chance for us to be promoted even if others have the opportunity to be promoted. Although the starting position of all teachers at the college level is `lecturer`, physical education teachers are discriminated against in this field. Because of this we are deprived of the post. Regardless of the salary, we are a step down in terms of status. As a result, we have to spend our days in mental inferiority. To put it in a normal language, promotion of college physical education teachers is the call of time and it is their moral right. So we retire from demotion. End discrimination against us. Therefore, I would like to draw the attention of the honorable Prime Minister, Minister of Education and everyone above, please listen to our wails, our cries, our cries and take appropriate action. I believe that it will be good for the nation if promotion is taken in other fields of education including physical subjects at the college level.

Writer: Sudhir Baran Mazi is the Physical Education Teacher, Haimchar Government College, Haimchar, Chandpur. He can be reached at shudir_chandpur@yahoo.com