Teacher shortage disrupts academic activities at Rajarhat college

RAJARHAT, KURIGRAM, Aug 29: Severe teacher shortage is disrupting academic activities for around 3,500 students at Rajarhat Government Mir Ismail Hossain College in Kurigram.

Of the 60 sanctioned teaching posts, only 28 are currently filled, leaving 32 vacant. Twelve important subjects have no teachers at all, with science students bearing the brunt of the shortage.

The college has also long struggled with manpower shortages, administrative weaknesses and financial problems. However, efforts have been made to restore discipline and improve academic and infrastructural facilities since Prof Md Zohurul Haque, a 22nd BCS cadre officer, joined as permanent principal on June 8.

According to college sources, 16 of its 33 bank accounts had funds when the principal took charge. Several accounts had no money, while one current account contained only Tk 300. At the time, guest teachers and master-roll employees were owed two months' salaries. The arrears have since been paid.

To address the teacher shortage, the college has advertised for 12 guest teachers, three of whom are currently teaching. There are also vacancies for a librarian, physical education teacher and demonstrators.

Lecturer Saheb Ali said continuing regular classes had become difficult due to the vacancies, while the absence of teachers in key subjects was hampering completion of the syllabus.

Lecturer Tapati Rani said science students were suffering the most, as both classes and practical activities were being disrupted. She said the practical rooms had remained unused for a long time, contributing to declining enrolment in the science stream despite available seats.

Class XII student Siratun Binte Bushra said she switched to the humanities stream despite obtaining GPA-5 in the science stream because of the teacher shortage. However, she said there were still not enough teachers for subjects including English in the humanities stream.

Since the new principal joined, one teacher has been assigned to monitor every 10 students to track attendance and academic progress. Staff attendance is also being monitored regularly.

The college has undertaken several infrastructure improvement initiatives, including installing fans in classrooms, setting up CCTV cameras, renovating laboratories, and repairing the boundary wall and students' toilets.

The college began its journey in 1973 on the initiative of Mir Md Habibullah. It was nationalised in 2018 but remained under acting principals for years, contributing to administrative and academic problems. It currently offers higher secondary, degree and honours courses in six subjects.

Principal Prof Md Zohurul Haque said the college had many problems and that efforts were underway to recruit guest teachers on a priority basis.

“Cooperation from teachers, students, guardians, political figures and local civil society is needed to improve the educational environment,” he said.