Lalmonirhat's Govt Women's College faces teacher crisis

Academic activities at Mazida Khatun Government Women's College in Lalmonirhat town, the district's lone women's college, are being hampered due to an acute crisis of teachers.

Students from different areas of the district study at the college, but the authorities concerned are not taking the necessary steps to appoint teachers to vacant posts.

The college was established on 88 decimals of land on July 1, 1988, during HM Ershad's regime, and is named after his mother. It was nationalised on August 27, 1997.

College sources said there are 28 teaching posts at the college, but only 11 recruited teachers. There are 1,600 students in HSC and BA classes, and a good number of them reside at the college hostel.

Asmani Akhter, a student of HSC first year, said academic activities are hampered due to the shortage of teachers. "Only a few classes are held, which is detrimental to education of the students," she added.

"We want classes everyday, we want to learn, but we are deprived from getting regular teaching due to a lack of teachers," said Mohona Akhter, a student of BA second year. "Most students come from poor families so they are fully dependent on class teaching as they cannot afford private coaching," she added.

Zakir Hossain, a lecturer of the college, said they are trying to cope with the problems caused by the shortage of teachers, but it is very difficult to do so. "We are 11 teachers carrying the load of 28 teaching posts," he said.

Prof Shamim Ara, principal of the college, said she has written several letters to the director general of education, seeking the appointment of teachers to vacant posts, but has not received any response yet.