Training of 'Fake Headmasters' in Rajshahi
Callous act of officials gave way to the wrongdoing
Two employees go into hiding, another attached
Some of the 56 fake headmasters, who had managed enrollment for a six-day training at the Secondary Teachers Training Institute in Rajshahi, show sign of despair after disclosure of their fraudulence on the fifth day of the training programme on Wednesday.Photo: STAR
Three employees backed by a few of their bosses at Secondary Teachers Training Institute in Rajshahi were allegedly responsible for inclusion of the names of 56 'headmasters' of non-existent schools in the six-day training programme starting on May 22. It is evident from gathered documents and interviews with persons concerned that the approved list of trainees, also comprising unemployed youths, students and traders, had 'escaped' scrutiny by the institute director and training coordinators. Recommendations of district education offices under Rajshahi division were ignored while finalising list of participants in the six-day training under Teaching Quality Improvement Project. The irregularities apparently aimed at embezzling nearly Tk 2 lakh that was to be distributed among the 56 fake participants (Tk 3,400 for each). There were only 28 genuine participants in the training programme funded by Asian Development Bank and CIDA. Of the three staff suspected for involvement in the misdeed, Jahangir Hossain, personal assistant to the institute director, and Abdul Hannan, an employee, went into hiding after the incident became known while Shafik Ahmed, audio-visual assistant of the institute, was attached to the office of the director, said institute officials. Following instructions, the district education officers in Rajshahi division sent names of schools under their jurisdiction for training of the headmasters, said Dr Swapan Kumar Dutta, director of the institute. "But the 56 fake headmasters were not taken as per the recommendations. They managed enrolment by providing fake names of schools and submitting forged certificates of school managing committees,” he said. Under the supervision of the institute director, additional director Dr Selina Afroze, assistant directors M Shamsuzzoha and Sirajum Munira coordinated the training and documents show that their signatures were put on the paper approving the list of 84 participants in the training programme, including 28 genuine and 56 fake ones. The signatures of Dr Dutta were facsimile ones while the signatures of other officials were put with pens. Asked about the matter, Dr Dutta said, "The perpetrators used my facsimile signature to get the names false trainees approved. I never use facsimile signature." But he remained silent when asked why he prepared the facsimile signature if he never uses it. Dutta and other officials said they assigned the three employees (later suspected for the wrongdoing) for registration of the participants. Shafik Ahmed, one of the employees, told this correspondent, "I was asked to register the participants' names but no list of the recommendations of schools (provided by district education officers) was given to me for scrutinizing the participants. So I listed names of all who appeared before me claiming as headmasters.” Contacted by phone, Dr Selina Afroze denied her involvement in the irregularity. She gave an evasive reply when asked about her signature on the paper containing the list. Sirajum Munira also declined to say anything regarding the matter. However, M Shamsuzzoha told a group of reporters, “As a coordinator, it is my fault that I could not imagine that teachers can give false identity.” After collecting the list of fake headmasters, this correspondent contacted some of them over mobile phone and heard that they are unemployed people, students, traders, or staffs of private companies. Many others could not be found through the cell phone numbers mentioned in the list. Following directives from the education ministry, Prof Dr Shamsul Kalam Azad, the head of chemistry department of Rajshahi New Degree Government College, yesterday took charge as head of the three-member investigation committee, replacing training course coordinator Selina Afroze. The committee, also comprising deputy director Ibrahim Ali and assistant director Izharul Islam, began their work yesterday. They will also investigate whether such irregularity was done during 35 other training programmes.
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