FENI, Sept 15: Due to classroom and teacher shortage at the 131-year-old Feni Government Pilot High School, the academic activities are suffering setback.
According to sources, the school was established on 11.22-acre land beside Sadar Hospital Road on the eastern side of the Rajajheer Dighi (pond) of the town in 1886. It was nationalised in 1967.
During setting-up of the school in British period, the 30-room main building was built.
After passing 121 years, the Public Works Department (PWD) announced the school building derelict following a notification in 2007. But despite being derelict, the academic activities at the main building at the school went on till 2013 amid high risk. At that time, after the Rana Plaza incident in Dhaka, the authority became careful and stopped the academic activities at the school.
In 2009, the education ministry started double shift at different schools including the Feni Government Pilot High School. Following an increase in the number of the students, total 26 teacher posts were created in 2013. But, the posts are yet to be filled. Now, there are 25 teachers against total 52 and 27 posts remained vacant.
According to field sources, currently, 1,608 students from class six to ten, in morning and day shifts, are reading at the school. In 11 classrooms, the students are studying amid much hazard but it needs 22 classrooms to accommodate the students.
Now, the classes are being held at the science club and the laboratory of the school. The laboratory is not full-fledged. There is no digital computer lab. There are some books at the library. There is no common room for the students; so they roam around during break hours. As the playground is low-lying, it remains water-logged during the rainy season. There is no scope for sports.
The sources at the school said, for the headmasters of morning and day shifts, there are no separate rooms. There is no common room for teachers. There is no accounting room; the only upper division assistant is ill for long. Four out of eight lower staff posts have been lying vacant for long.
A class six student of the school Salman A Mehboob Shihab said, "We have to attend classes amid much hazard for classroom shortage."
A student of class eight Imrul Kayes said, the school is a top-level institution in the district and many students from remote areas wish to study here.
Md Nizam Uddin, father of a student Nafiul Islam Nihal of the school said, it is the only school for boys in the district headquarters; so the current problems need to be solved.
Headmistress of the school Hosne Ara Begum said, "Conquering all obstacles, the school is running till now with half the required teachers and staff. The school has kept mark in different examinations."
Convener of Sachetan Nagarik Samaj, district unit, Md Golam Nabi said, the school is a witness to many historical incidents, and it is necessary to ensure proper academic environment here.
Deputy Commissioner and President of school governing body Manoj Kumar Roy said, "The present government is education-friendly. We will take immediate steps to solve the current problems of the school."
