LAKSHMIPUR, Dec 13: There is a manpower crisis of 745 staff vacancies in Primary Education Department in the district.
Official complications have been created. The academic activities are hampered.
At the district and upazila level, the total granted post of the primary school staffs including teachers and employees is 5,624 under the Primary Education Department.
But against these approved posts, 4,879 staffs are posted. The number of empty posts is 745, over 13 per cent higher.
These 745 vacancies included 21 assistant primary education officers out of total 37.
Besides, 491 posts of head teachers and assistant teachers are also vacant.
Six posts out of total 11 ones including assistant district primary education officers are lying empty Laxmipur.
Posts of two assistant district officers and one assistant monitoring officer have been lying vacant for a long time.
The approved posts of 3rd and 4th class employees are seven. But against these posts, one computer operator, steno-typist, cashier and nightguard are employed under contractual basis.
Three more posts of office assistant-cum-computer operator, driver, and office assistant are also vacant.
District Primary Education Officer Abdul Latif Mazumdar said, due to the vacant posts of assistant education officers, the school inspections are hampered, causing a challenge to keep up the education quality.
The authorities concerned have been informed about this, and deputy commissioner has been given letter, he added.
In Laxmipur Sadar, Raipur, Ramganj, Ramgati, and Kamalnagar Upazila Primary Education offices, 37 posts of education officers and assistant education officers are vacant out of total granted 63.
Sadar Upazila Primary Education Officer Delwar Hossain Mazumdar said, only three ones are working in place of 13 assistant upazila education officers.
There are 285 primary schools in Sadar Upazila.
He further said, it needs 9-10 months by these three assistant education officers to monitor these schools under 13 clusters.
In the district, 550 head teachers are posted against 732 approved posts and 999 assistant teachers against 4,308.
The remaining 491 posts including 182 head teachers and 309 assistant teachers have been vacant for several years.
Of 510 office assistants-cum-guards, 211 are vacant.
President of District Primary Teacher Association Md Shamsuddin Babul said, the manpower crisis in the Primary Education Department is getting them to wait for hour after hour for official works of schools.
The teacher crisis is affecting the academic quality, he added.
He demanded filling these vacant posts.
Abdul Latif Mazumdar said, recruiting exams are going to be held for head teachers and assistant teachers. The teacher crisis will be solved soon, he added.
