Ruling party men meddle in school-college affairs

Formation of full-fledged managing committees and governing bodies of non-government schools and colleges in the district have remained stalled while inclusion of 'controversial' ruling party men in the committees is affecting academic atmosphere.
Resenting selection of 'controversial' persons as chairman, a number of teachers said such appointment often results in unwanted interference in the academic and administrative activities of an institution and study is hampered due to lack of coordination between authorities and teachers.
Of the 562 schools and 87 colleges in 13 upazilas of Dinajpur, 200 institutions have completed formation of ad hoc committee after expiry of two-year term of the managing committees/governing bodies of the institutions in recent months, said sources at Dinajpur Education Board.
Most other schools and colleges are also heading towards forming ad hoc committees with six months' tenure, suspending the process of full-fledged committee formation that requires specific procedure and election.
The four member ad-hoc committee includes a president, secretary (headmaster/principal of the institution), teachers' representative, and a member.
According to provision, the head of the institution has to make a list of at least three persons for the post of chairman of the ad hoc committee.
The local lawmaker selects one of them for the post and sends a recommendation to the respective education board and university for approval of the ad hoc committee.
But the provision is being ignored as lawmakers concerned are issuing letters asking selection of his/her chosen persons.
Md Raihanul Islam Ranu, a peon of Raniganj Dimukhi High School of Ghoraghat, has been selected as chairman of Bologari Dimukhi High School managing committee as lawmaker Azizul Haque Chowdhury issued a letter in this regard.
Dinajpur Education Board sources said a few lawmakers of the district verbally instructed the board authorities not to approve any committee without letters from them.
The teachers, staff and students of Nawabganj Women Degree College of Dinajpur have openly objected to selecting Ataur Rahman, general secretary of Nawabganj upazila Awami League, as chairman of the governing body.
His selection as chairman followed issuance of a letter by lawmaker Azizul Haque Chowdhury.
Terming Ataur a 'controversial political man' in the upazila, the teachers alleged harassment to the persons who do not agree with him.
Interference by the governing body men in the daily activities of the college hampers smooth functioning of the institution, they said.
On Thursday, the ruling party cadres attacked a peaceful procession of the students, teachers and staff of Nawabganj Women Degree College when they were going to submit a memorandum to upazila Chairman Shibli Sadique demanding cancellation of Ataur Rahman's appointment as chairman.
A number of teachers of different schools and colleges seeking anonymity said autocratic functioning of the managing committee/governing body is greatly hampering smooth functioning of the educational institutions.
When contacted, District Education Officer Md Shamsul Alam said he can select only a teachers' representative of the school managing committee.