The violence during the July revolution has left both students and teachers deeply traumatized.
Following the change of government, some students have even forced school heads to resign, worsening the trauma among teachers.
Education experts and teachers stress the importance of resuming classroom activities and providing counseling to help students recover from their trauma. The government must take decisive actions to stabilize educational institutions and reassure teachers.
The trauma experienced by ordinary students has been compounded by the violence of the quota reform movement, during which many were shot and injured.
Reports indicate that till August 25, 89 children and adolescents were killed, 79 were injured by gunfire, and nine were burned to death in fires set during the protests demanding the government's resignation. The youngest victim was just four years old.
Children and adolescents, many of whom are primary and secondary school students, witnessed the brutality of the movement firsthand.
Experts and teachers have recommended counseling to help these students cope with their trauma and have called for special support for classroom teachers and parents.
The sight of their peers being shot has left a lasting impact on students.
If not addressed quickly, the abnormal situation in schools and the pervasive sense of insecurity could have long-term effects.
Resuming classroom teaching can help restore normalcy, but counseling is essential.
However, it is the teachers who play a crucial role in helping students overcome this trauma.
Meanwhile, since the departure of the Awami League government on August 5, several school heads and teachers across the country, including in the capital, have been forced to resign.
Those who resisted were harassed, and some were humiliated in widely shared incidents on social media. This has also deeply traumatized the teachers.
On August 25, Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud condemned the culture of forced resignations, stating that legitimate complaints against educational institution leaders should be addressed through proper channels.
He warned that forced resignations could destabilize the administration, making it difficult for staff to receive their salaries.
Despite this, forced resignations and harassment of school heads and teachers have continued, leading some schools, like Nilkhet Secondary School in the capital, to declare holidays out of fear.
The issue has also affected higher education institutions.
After the resignation of the vice-chancellor of Islamic University (IU), many demanded the appointment of a new VC.
Allegations suggest that opportunists have played a key role in forcing over a hundred school heads and teachers to resign across the country.
In some cases, senior teachers who could become heads of institutions are reportedly involved.
In one instance, Principal Johra Begum of Udayan Higher Secondary School was pressured to resign by the students on August 18.
Following her resignation, senior teacher Arifur Rahman was appointed acting principal and placed two staff members on mandatory leave.
Another incident involved Principal Geetanjali Barua of Azimpur Government Girls School and College, who was forced by students to sign a resignation letter.
Although she denied being physically abused, a photo of her allegedly tied to a tree circulated on social media. She has since sought safety with relatives and reported the incident to the authorities.
Similar incidents have occurred at other institutions, such as Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, where the acting principal and a teacher were forced to resign.
These events have left teachers across the country traumatized and uncertain about how to manage their students.
Education leaders and experts believe that it will take time for both students and teachers to heal from such trauma.
Former caretaker government adviser Rasheda K Choudhury said: "The government needs time. The education adviser has taken a role, and we are seeing results. However, we must allow time to evaluate whether the outcome is good or bad.”
She emphasized the need for counseling in all educational institutions but questioned who would provide this support when teachers themselves are traumatized.
Terming the ongoing situation as the pinnacle of disorder, Rasheda Choudhury said: “One cannot be punished without evidence. There must be a complaint and an investigation before any action is taken. They have no right to harass the teachers. It also contradicts the spirit of the student movement. Teachers will also need time to overcome their trauma. Just as the government needs time, so do the teachers. We will propose a plan to help teachers overcome their trauma."
Professor Dr Nazrul Islam Khan, president of the Private Teachers' Training College Teachers' Association, condemned the violence and urged the Ministry of Education to take appropriate steps to help students overcome their trauma.
He also warned that the forced resignation and humiliation of school heads set a dangerous precedent, calling on the student community to protect the dignity of teachers.
The government, he stressed, must act to prevent the abuse of teachers, as this humiliation is unacceptable and threatens to further damage the educational environment.