Manpower shortage hampers study, other activities
Academic and administrative activities at Moulvibazar Polytechnic Institute are being hampered seriously due to manifold problems, including shortage of teachers and other essential employees.
Due to acute shortage of staff, most of the practical classes and lab works are not being held on time, students alleged.
This crisis extended across all the levels, including academic and administrative personnel as well as outsourcing workers, they said.
Currently, classes are being conducted with limited resources, while an unusual practice is being introduced at the institution to cope with the situation.
There are a total of 126 posts of teaching staff, including the principal, vice-principal, chief instructors and general instructors, at the institution.
But unfortunately, 110 posts of teachers have been lying vacant for long and only 16 individuals are trying to fulfil those roles at present.
This acute shortage of teaching staff has been badly hampering the institution's ability to deliver quality education.
According to the sources at the institution, Moulvibazar Polytechnic Institute started its journey in Matarkapan area of Sadar upazila in 2010.
At the beginning, all the working teachers used to take classes in two shifts as there were 37 posts of teachers back then.
But in 2021, separate posts of teaching staff were created to run the two shifts.
However, no teachers have been appointed to the created posts so far.
Moreover, an acting principal is currently performing the duties in absence a regular principal.
One out of the two posts of vice-principal is also lying vacant for long.
During a visit to the institution, this correspondent found all the three posts of chief instructors at the Computer Department vacant.
Only two out of 10 instructors are currently performing their duties, while all the 10 posts of junior instructor are vacant.
Out of the three posts of chief instructors at Electronics Department only one instructor is serving at present.
Nine out of 10 posts of instructors are also lying vacant for long.
Alongside the lone post of workshop superintendent, posts of 10 junior instructors are also vacant.
Although there are only two posts of chief instructor at the Non-Tech Department, one is currently working.
The lone post of physical education instructor is also lying vacant.
Besides, the scenario is almost the same in all the other academic and administration sections of the institution.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to fill the gaps, classes are being taken by employing some temporary teachers and combining them with the teachers of Skill and Training Enhancement Project (STEP), funded by the government and World Bank.
Since 2014, there are a total of 18 instructors and junior instructors at STEP.
Though those teachers are taking class regularly, they are not getting their salaries for the last 38 months, some teachers, seeking anonymity, alleged.
A number of teachers said they always remain under huge pressure as most of them have to take multiple classes in almost every working days, disrupting overall quality of education.
On the other hand, at least 46 out of 76 posts of craft instructors are also lying vacant, hampering the practical classes.
Similar vacancies also exist in the administrative department as only three out of 14 staff are working to cope with the present situation.
Mentionable, Moulvibazar Polytechnic Institute has a total of 1, 491 students, while the number of female students is 180.
The institution has two academic and an administrative building alongside a students' dormitory.
Contacted, Mizanur Rahman, acting principal of the institution, said he has informed the higher authorities about the vacant posts, but they are yet to take any necessary step in this regard.
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