One man show

The students of Kangalichheo Dakkhinpara Government Primary School in Sakhipur upazila have been deprived of proper education as Selina Akter, the lone assistant teacher of the institution, has been conducting classes of all six classes for the last three months.

The institution has no peon or bell man, and besides taking classes and conducting office works, Selina has been performing other duties like cleaning the classrooms and ringing the bell.

According to upazila primary education office, the school was established in 1973 and nationalised in 2013 and it has a total of 70 students in all six classes from pre-primary to Class V.

Since the retirement of the headmaster of the school in 2015, it was running with two assistant teachers.

After one of the two assistant teachers retired on February 13 this year, Selina was transferred to the school from adjacent Akandapara Government Primary School on deputation the same day.

Since the other senior assistant teacher went on retirement on August 13, Selina has been running the school single-handedly.

Due to shortage of teachers, education of the school kids has been badly hampered, guardian Ananda Mondol, also a member of the school managing committee, said.

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw Selina taking three classes simultaneously moving from one class to another. 

"Although our Primary Terminal Examination is knocking on the door, we could not take necessary preparations due to shortage of teachers," Urmi Mondol, a Class V student of the institution, said.

“I have already informed my higher authorities of the matter,” Sakhipur Upazila Education Officer Mohammad Aminul Haque said, adding that he will send two teachers on deputation as soon as possible.