Naogaon govt pry schools limping for teacher shortage

Academic activities at a considerable number of government primary schools in Naogaon district are being seriously hampered due to an acute shortage of teachers. 

The crisis is affecting normal school functioning and the rate at which recruitment is done every year is very poor compared to the posts vacant. Several schools are also continuing academic activities with only 2/3 teachers.

Consequently, the guardians are forced to enroll their children in English and Bangla medium kindergartens.

District Primary Education Office sources said some 642 posts of teacher, including 109 of headmaster, have remained vacant for long in nine upazilas, which is increasing every year. Of the head teacher posts, 10 are lying vacant in Atrai upazila, four in Dhamairhat, 14 in Sadar, 12 in Niyamatpur, 11 in Patnitola, five in Porsha, nine in Badalgachhi, 18 in Mohadebpur, six in Manda, 14 in Raninagar and six in Sapahar. In some of the schools, assistant teachers are performing the headmasters' duties.

In addition, the recently nationalised schools are also facing the crisis. There are 25 posts of teacher lying vacant in the newly nationalised schools of Atrai upazila, 53 posts in those of Dhamairhat, 33 in Naogaon, 52 in Niyamatpur, 62 in Patnitola, 68 in Porsha, 66 in Badalgachhi, 62 in Mohadebpur, 30 in Manda, 43 in Raninagar and 59 in Sapahar.

Despite willingness to provide a standard education, the authorities of the schools are not being able to do so for the crisis. Md Aminul Islam, district primary education officer, said they had sent a letter to the Education Ministry seeking immediate appointment to the vacant posts. "The rate of recruitment is far less than the requirement. If the crisis cannot be resolved soon, the primary education sector will inevitably face a severe setback," he added.