Classes hampered as posts of 222 headmasters, 463 teachers vacant
A good number of primary schools in rural areas of the district are running with scanty teachers, and so, classes as well as academic activities are badly hampered.
There are no regular headmasters in 222 primary schools among 1,156 such institutions in eight upazilas of the district, Patuakhali district primary education office sources said.
The schools include 109 in Baufal upazila, 77 in Kalapara, 16 in Rangabali, 12 in Dashmina, 4 in Sadar, 3 in Mirzaganj and one in Dumki upazila.
Assistant teachers, who are serving as acting headmasters of these schools, have to engage in various official works including attending monthly meetings of education offices at upazila and district towns.
In the district’s primary schools, there are 5,269 assistant teachers’ posts but 463 of them, including 130 in Kalapara upazila, 86 in Dashmina, 78 in Sadar, 67 in Baufal, 53 in Galachipa, 28 in Rangabali, 18 in Dumki and 3 in Mirzaganj upazila are lying vacant, district primary education office sources said.
During a recent visit, this correspondent found only two teachers working at Uttar Titkata Primary School in Patuakhali Sadar upazila as three other posts are vacant.
Assistant teacher Zahida Akhter, who is serving as acting headmaster of the school, said, “When I have to go to upazila or district education office for different purposes, my only colleague Nafiza Begum has to conduct all five classes of 74 students. I informed the officials concerned of the matter on several occasions.”
Tariqul Islam, the lone teacher at Charbashbaria Government Primary School in Dashmina upazila, said he is struggling to manage all the administrative and academic works as the posts of four other teachers are vacant.
Char Shahjalal Government Primary School in the same upazila is also running with one teacher.
“I am serving here as the lone teacher as higher authorities transferred me on deputation,” said Md Shahidul Islam, the teacher.
Most of the teachers want to live in upazila or district towns to avail modern amenities and so, schools in rural areas often face acute shortage of teachers, said stakeholders.
Contacted, Md Sayaduzzaman, Patuakhali district primary education officer, said, “Process is on for appointment of new teachers and written test for the purpose has already been taken. After completion of their viva, final appointment will be made and hopefully the schools will get new teachers by December this year.”
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