Jashore school students suffer for absence of headteacher

JASHORE, Sept 4: A government secondary school at Chaugachha Upazila of Jashore is facing a leadership crisis, with its head-teacher’s post vacant for nearly two years and the two teachers assigned to run the institution dealing with serious health problems.

Chaugachha Government Shahadat Pilot Model Secondary School, established in 1929 and nationalised in 2018, has nearly 1,000 students.

Head Teacher Azizur Rahman retired on November 28, 2024, after which the school was placed under a series of temporary arrangements.

Assistant Head-Teacher Shafiqul Islam was initially appointed acting head-teacher. He had been suffering from complications from serious injuries sustained in a 2018 road accident but continued in the position for more than a year.

Five parents later submitted a written complaint to the director-general of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, saying Shafiqul had become physically and mentally frail after the accident. They said he had difficulty speaking and needed help from family members to travel to and from school.

Shafiqul subsequently took medical leave and has been receiving half pay for seven months.

“I have not returned to the school since I became ill. I am no longer involved in any of the school’s administrative affairs,” Shafiqul said.

His absence led to the appointment of senior teacher Shahidul Islam Babu as acting head teacher based on seniority on January 4.

Babu is visually impaired and said he hired a part-time teacher at his own expense to help with his duties. Colleagues also assist him in moving around the school and handling administrative work.

“I have been given the chair, but not the administrative responsibilities. In my present condition, it is impossible for me to run a school with nearly 1,000 students,” Babu said.

During a recent visit, it was found that only about 150 students attended the morning assembly.

Asaduzzaman, father of a class seven student, said many students leave before the end of the school hours.

Abu Zafar, a college teacher, said the school urgently needs an effective head teacher.

Zillur Rahman, a former chairman of the school’s managing committee, suggested temporarily transferring a senior teacher from another government school.

“That would help restore some order to discipline, administration and teaching,” he said. “But the permanent solution is to appoint both a head teacher and an assistant head teacher without further delay.”

SM Bazlur Rashid, Upazila Secondary Education Officer, said he could not say when the vacant post would be filled.

Chaugachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Islam said senior Education Department officials had been informed. “They will take the necessary steps in accordance with the rules,” she said.