Over 100 teachers at 49 Pabna pry schools served show-cause notices 

CHATMOHAR, PABNA, Aug 1: More than 100 head-teachers and assistant teachers from 49 government primary schools in Chatmohar Upazila of Pabna have been served show-cause notices for failing to achieve learning targets under the government's Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) programme.

Chatmohar Upazila Primary Education Officer Md Abdul Gani confirmed the matter on Thursday evening.

According to the upazila education office, the notices were issued after the schools failed to meet learning benchmarks set by the District Primary Education Office under a 180-day action plan.

The targets required third-grade students to achieve Bangla reading proficiency, fourth-grade students to master the four basic arithmetic operations - addition, subtraction, multiplication and division -- and fifth-grade students to attain fluent English reading by June 30.

As the targets were not met, the education office initiated disciplinary proceedings against the teachers concerned.

The notices, issued under an official memorandum, state that despite repeated instructions and monitoring, the teachers appeared to have failed to take effective measures to implement the programme.

The recipients have been asked to submit written explanations within three working days, stating why departmental action should not be taken against them for alleged negligence in carrying out their responsibilities.

Officials at the upazila education office said the government has attached high priority to the FLN programme to improve students' foundational learning skills. As a result, teachers are being held accountable where schools fail to meet the prescribed targets within the stipulated timeframe.

The schools receiving the notices include Shalikha Government Primary School and Dolong Government Primary School in the municipal area, along with 47 other government primary schools across the upazila.

Several teachers who received the notices, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a number of factors had hindered the programme's implementation. 

They cited a lack of parental involvement, students' poor attention spans, teacher shortages, additional administrative responsibilities, transportation difficulties in remote areas and irregular student attendance.

They said these issues would be highlighted in their written responses to the education office.

Upazila Primary Education Officer Abdul Gani said all teachers at the 49 schools had been brought under the notices.

"Some schools have three teachers, some have four, while others have even more. If the explanations are found unsatisfactory, further action will be taken," he said.