2 teachers for 650 students

The Chittagong University Laboratory College started its journey in 1976 with a handful of students.

Run by the university, the college is situated adjacent to the Education and Research Institue of CU.

Over the years, the institution started enrolling more students with an aim to provide quality education. At present, it has around 650 students studying in various disciplines.

But the institution has only two teachers against such a large number of students. As a result, academic and administrative activities are being hampered.

The crisis began in 2012 when the CU authorities affiliated 18 teachers out of 24 of the college with the university's education and research institute. Since then, the posts have remained vacant.

Last year, the university syndicate directed those 18 teachers to return to their previous workplace, as per recommendation of University Grants Commission. But the teachers filed a writ petition with the High Court against the directive, and the decision is still pending with the court.

Meanwhile, students of the college continue to bear the brunt. They said classes are not being held regularly due to teacher shortage. Besides, the college does not have adequate number of laboratories, libraries, classrooms or staff members, they added.

Admitting the crisis, Fazlul Haque, principal of the college, said they have informed Non-government Teachers' Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) about the matter. “We have two lab assistants who are also taking classes to mitigate the crisis.

He said NTRCA recommended 18 teachers for the college but the CU authorities did not appoint them yet. “I have informed the matter to the university's vice chancellor and registrar, and even had meetings with them over the issue, but to no avail,” he said.

Contacted, CU Vice Chancellor Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury said the crisis began in 2012 when the then university authorities affiliated 18 teachers from the college with the university.

“We asked them to rejoin the college as per UGC recommendation, but they filed a writ petition with the High Court in this regard,” he added. “As the matter is now pending with the court, we cannot appoint any teacher to the college,” he said. “I hope the crisis will be over soon.”