No headmaster in 117 Rajbari primary schools

As many as 117 government primary schools, out of a total 481 in Rajbari district, are running without headmasters for six months to three years as the vacancies caused by transfers, retirement or death have not been filled up.

Assistant teachers are serving as acting headmasters in those schools but official and academic activities are suffering as other teachers of the same position often show reluctance to follow the acting headmasters' direction, said several teachers and guardians.

The number of schools without headmasters is 28 in Rajbari Sadar upazila, 37 in Pangsha, 21 in Baliakandi, 18 in Kalukhali, and 13 in Gualando upazila, said sources at the district primary education office.

“It is very difficult for me to conduct office work and classes as there are only three teachers against the posts of seven,” said Abdul Mazid, acting headmaster of Cowakhola Government Primary School in Kalukhali upazila.

Agrodut Chakrobarty, acting headmaster of Boholadanga Government Primary School in Pangsha, said, "I have been performing the duty for three years as no regular headmaster has been posted during the period. Obviously, I am facing various problems in running the school."

Md Habibur Rahman Mollah, president of Rajbari District Primary Teachers Association and also senior vice-president of Central Primary Teachers Association, said, “We have informed the ministry concerned about our problems but no step has been taken.”

Tohidul Islam, district primary education officer, said, “We have already sent the list of vacant headmasters' posts to our higher authorities. But we do not know when the problem will be solved.”