225 Faridpur pry schools sans headmasters

The posts of headmasters at 225 government primary schools in the district are lying vacant for six months to three years as the vacancies caused by transfers, retirement or death have not been filled up.

According to the upazila primary education offices, there are 874 government primary schools in nine upazilas of the district, of which 225 are running without headmasters.

Sources at the upazila primary education offices said in the absence of regular headmasters, an assistant teacher is serving as headmaster in all those schools.

As a result, official activities are facing serious indiscipline as other teachers of the same position are reluctant to follow the acting headmaster's directives.

The number of schools without headmasters is 17 in Sadar upazila, 12 in Madhukhali, 39 in Saltha, 25 in Nagorkanka, 25 in Sadarpur, 15 in Charbhadrasan, 34 in Boalmari, 26 in Alfadanga and 31 in Bhanga upazilas.

Ziaur Rahman, acting headmaster of Basdi Government Primary School in Madhukhali upazila, said "We are unable to take proper care of our students as only six teachers are working against the need of seven for 350 students".

Acting headmaster of Dafa Government Primary School in Nagorkanka upazila said due to the teachers' crisis it is very difficult for four teachers to teach 300 students.

As per government rules, 65 percent headmasters are appointed through promotion of senior teachers and the rest 35 percent are directly appointed, but due to various complexities, the post of 225 headmasters remained vacant for long.

District Primary Education Officer Shibapada Dey said his office had already informed the higher authorities of the matter and are waiting for their decision.