KISHOREGANJ, Feb 15: As many as 469 government primary schools in the district have been running without headmasters for a long time.
Acting headmasters are performing overall activities of the schools. As a result, students are being deprived of standard education.
Of the total 469 vacant headmaster posts, there are no headmasters at 41 schools in Karimganj, 36 in Katiadi, 23 in Kuliarchar, 41 in Kishoreganj Sadar, 45 in Hossainpur, 30 in Tarail, 63 in Pakundia, 26 in Itna, 34 in Mitamoin, 38 in Austagram, 18 in Nikli, 46 in Bajitpur and 28 in Bhairab upazilas.
On the other hand, 356 assistant teacher posts are also vacant in the district. Of them, 28 in Karimganj, 16 in Katiadi, 27 in Kuliarchar, 6 in Kishoreganj Sadar, 32 in Hossainpur, 2 in Tarail, 97 in Pakundia, 21 in Itna, 23 in Mitamoin, 51 in Austagram, 5 in Nikli, 41 in Bajitpur and 7 in Bhairab Upazila.
If the posts of headmasters are not fulfilled on an urgent basis, the primary education system may face serious setback in the region, opined guardians and concerned corners.
The complicated recruiting procedure of the teachers through recommendation of Public Service Commission (PSC) has resulted in the current crisis.
In absence of headmasters, assistant teachers are performing both administrative and academic activities. In many schools only two or three teachers run all the activities though the posts have been lying vacant for long.
Student and guardians of those schools are deeply concerned pertaining to deteriorating academic standard and poor quality of education.
The inadequacy of teaching staff and meagre academic activity marking lots of management deficiency has virtually paralysed the primary education, according to reliable source.
Sources said there are total 2,587 primary schools in 13 upazilas of the district, including 1,317 government primary schools, one experimental primary school, 674 kindergartens, 496 NGO-run primary schools, 15 primary schools attached to higher secondary schools, one primary school attached to a junior high school, 30 unregistered primary schools and 53 others primary schools.
While visiting a school, this correspondent came to know that year after year, recruitment process of headmasters and assistant teachers at the school has remained pending.
Seeking anonymity an acting headmaster of a school in Austagram Upazila said, "There are more than 140 students at the school. I and other two assistant teachers are running all the activities. When I have to go to different places for official and other purposes, the school is run by two teachers only."
Md. Abdul Hai, a guardian of a student alleged that since there is no other school nearby, they have been compelled to send their kids there.
When asked about the ongoing frustrating scenario, District Primary Education Officer Md. Sazzad Hossain said promotion to the posts of headmaster and appointment of assistant teachers will resolve the problem. As per new recruitment system all the appointments have to be performed with the recommendation of PSC. Previously PSC's recommendation was necessary only for appointment of headmasters."
