SREEPUR, GAZIPUR, May 23: Primary education in Sreepur Upazila of Gazipur is facing a steady decline in student attendance amid allegations of weak monitoring by the Education Department and frequent absenteeism of teachers, raising concerns over the quality of government primary education.
As confidence in the public education system erodes, many parents are shifting their children to private institutions or withdrawing them from school altogether, according to local sources. Officials say the trend is undermining the government's primary education programme.
According to data from the Upazila Primary Education office, Sreepur has 166 government primary schools with 50,099 boys and 53,586 girls enrolled. However, actual attendance is reportedly far lower, with less than half of the registered students present in many schools. Allegations have also surfaced that inflated enrolment figures are being maintained in the online database.
The upazila has 996 assistant teacher posts, of which 930 are filled, while 66 remain vacant. In addition, 61 posts for head teachers are vacant.
Interviews with school authorities and guardians suggest that many schools in remote and marginal areas are struggling with very low attendance. Locals allege that inaccurate data is being submitted to the education department, creating a misleading picture of the situation.
They also claim that due to weak supervision by the upazila primary education office, schools often open late, close early, and teachers attend irregularly.
A recent visit to several schools - including Poshaiad Government Primary School, Mitalu Government Primary School, Jahangirpur Government Primary School, Bidhai Batenia Abdar Government Primary School, Hoidpur Government Primary School, Channapara Government Primary School and Kornopur Guchchhogram Government Primary School - found severe student shortages. In some schools, classes remained suspended due to a lack of students.
The headmaster of Poshaiad Government Primary School, Humayun, said the school is struggling to attract students due to its remote location, though efforts are being made to improve the situation.
Guardians, however, blamed the crisis on a shortage of skilled teachers and irregular classroom activities. Many said they initially enrolled their children in government schools but later withdrew them due to poor teaching quality.
Several teachers, speaking anonymously, said many nationalised schools are suffering from a shortage of trained teachers and long-standing systemic weaknesses. They also alleged that monitoring has weakened after the current upazila education officer took charge, allowing irregularities and absenteeism to go unchecked.
Field visits across the upazila revealed extremely low attendance in several schools. In some classrooms designed for 40-50 students, only 1-6 students were present, severely disrupting teaching activities and affecting learning outcomes.
Officials at the upazila primary education office said initiatives have been taken to improve attendance and learning quality, but implementation gaps remain.
Upazila Primary Education Officer Fatema Nasrin rejected allegations of weak monitoring, saying strict measures would be taken to ensure teacher attendance and that awareness campaigns are underway to bring students back to school.
District Primary Education Officer Masud Bhuiyan said the issue of low enrolment and attendance would be investigated.
