February MPO Bills: Fresh Directive

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has issued a fresh directive requiring heads of institutions under its jurisdiction to submit the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) bills for February 2026 within a stipulated deadline. The move is intended to ensure the timely disbursement of salaries and allowances to MPO-listed teachers and staff members through the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) system.

According to an official notice signed on Sunday (22 February) by Professor B M Abdul Hannan, Director General (in additional charge), all relevant institutions must complete the online bill submission process by Tuesday, 24 February. Failure to comply within the prescribed timeframe may result in delays or complications in salary payments for the concerned employees.

The notice reiterates that, effective from 1 January 2025, MPO payments for teachers and staff under DSHE have been disbursed via EFT directly into their respective bank accounts. From January to July 2025, the process was centrally managed, and payments were transferred without requiring institutional-level bill submission. However, beginning in August 2025, a revised mechanism was introduced. Under the updated system, institution heads are required to submit detailed MPO bills online through the Education Management Information System (EMIS) to initiate EFT payments.

Institution heads must log into the EMIS platform using their designated MPO credentials and access the ‘MPO EFT’ module. There, they are responsible for determining, in accordance with prevailing regulations, the precise payable amount for each teacher and staff member individually. The data submitted through this module will be treated as final and authoritative for salary disbursement purposes.

The DSHE has emphasised that accountability rests squarely with the institution head. If incorrect or incomplete information results in a failure to transfer funds, or if excess payments are made, the liability will be borne by the head of the institution concerned.

Special provisions have also been outlined for changes in staff status. In cases where a teacher or staff member has died or resigned, the institution head must calculate and submit the proportionate entitlement for the relevant month. Similarly, if an employee is under temporary suspension, unauthorised absence, or subject to partial or full salary deduction under applicable rules, such adjustments must be clearly indicated in the bill submission.

A summary of the key directives is provided below:

The notice further clarifies that only personnel whose records have been validated through the Integrated Budget and Accounting System (iBAS) have been incorporated into the bill submission option. Staff members with pending discrepancies or unverified data will be included only after their records are corrected and duly authenticated.

Officials believe that the transition to a fully digital, verification-based system enhances transparency, reduces bureaucratic delays, and strengthens financial discipline. However, its success depends largely on accurate and timely data entry by institution heads. With the 24 February deadline approaching, compliance remains critical to ensuring uninterrupted salary payments for thousands of teachers and support staff across the country.