Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon has said that the government has taken various initiatives to fill vacant posts in government and MPO-listed colleges across the country.

While replying to a starred tabled question from NCP lawmaker Md Abul Hasnat (Cumilla-4) in the House on Wednesday, the minister said that currently some 656 lecturer posts under the BCS (General Education) cadre are vacant in government colleges, while 2,410 non-cadre lecturer posts remain vacant in newly nationalised colleges.

Ehsanul Hoque Milon also informed the House that 1,349 posts of principals and vice-principals are vacant in MPO-listed private colleges, while recruitment is ongoing for 1,344 vacant teacher posts in MPO-listed colleges.

The minister further said that the total number of vacant teacher posts in MPO-listed schools and colleges combined stands at 60,295.

To fill these vacancies quickly, the government has undertaken several measures, he said, adding that, recruitment of lecturers in government colleges is being processed through the 45th, 46th, 47th, 49th and 50th BCS examinations.

“In addition, transparent and merit-based recruitment in MPO-listed educational institutions is continuing through the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA),” he added.

The education minister said an e-requisition notice for collecting vacancy data was published on March 29, 2026, and further steps will be taken to fill the vacant posts based on the collected information.

He also said that the 8th NTRCA Recruitment Examination-2026 (revised) has been arranged to fill 11,151 vacant posts of heads and assistant heads of MPO-listed educational institutions, and the application process has already been completed.

While replying another tabled question from treasury bench lawmaker Joynal Abdin (Feni-2), he said, ”No, not every village in the country has a primary school. The number of villages without primary school is 2,839 throughout the country.”

The number of villages without primary school is 717 in Dhaka Division, 818 in Chattogram Division, 355 in Rajshahi Division, 37 in Rangpur Division, 341 in Khulna Division, 45 in Barishal Division, 260 in Sylhet Division and 266 in Mymensingh Division.

He said the government would take steps to establish schools in these villages if proposals are received, considering all necessary conditions.