Complications in the appointment of clerk-cum-guard of seven government primary schools of Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat are yet to be resolved due to the intervention of a local parliament member.
Three months after the appointment, the upazila primary education office issued a notice declaring the appointments illegal as per the directive of MP Abu Syed Al Mahmud Shopon.
In response, presidents of the managing committee of the seven schools wrote to the Upazila Primary Education Officer (UPEO) protesting the cancellation of the appointments.
As such, teachers and guardians of these schools expressed concern over the tug of war between the authorities.
According to the Directorate of Primary Education, the then UPEO Jahanara Begum initiated the recruitment of clerk-cum-guard for 11 primary schools of Khetlal upazila on February 5, 2014.
Only two schools were able to complete the recruitment in due time, after which the recruitment process in the remaining nine schools was halted temporarily. On October 15 and 16 last year, eight schools completed the process, but only seven schools sent the test results and panel sheet to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) between October 26 and 29.
However on November 17, local parliament member Abu Syed Al Mahmud Shopon asked the UNO in a letter to suspend the appointment in those seven schools due to alleged irregularities. He, however, did not specify the anomalies and was also not available for comment.
According to the primary education regulation, after the selection committee of the schools send the results to the higher authority for approval, the authority would say if there was any suggestion or directive. The selection committee would then fulfill the requirement and the approval body would then have to approve it within 30 days. If the selection committee gets no feedback within that time, they may appoint the first person on the list and issue a notice duly signed by the headmaster.
Since there was no issue from the approval authority about the result forwarded by the selection committee, the management of the seven schools wrote to the UNO to approve the appointments. But getting no response from the UNO, the school committee appointed the clerks and asked the upazila office for their salary.
After the completion of the appointment, UPEO Rafiqul Islam on March 12 asked those seven schools, along with other primary schools of the upazila, to advertise for fresh recruitment. But the school committee wrote to the UPEO on March 18 expressing their inability to do so.
Rabiul Islam Tipu, president of the managing committee of Mohabbatpur Govt Primary School, said their appointment was not approved, though they followed the regulation with utmost transparency.
“According to regulations, if the authority does not say anything within 30 days, we can go ahead with the recruitment. But we waited nearly three months and then appointed the clerk. We will take legal measures if needed,” he added.
UPEO Rafiqul Islam said: “Appointment of clerk-cum-guard in 13 schools, out of 34 government primary schools in the upazila, was completed in two steps. The rest of the 21 schools were asked to publicise the advertisement, but seven of them denied to do so. Hence, we have halted the appointment.”
President of the appointment committee UNO Abdullahel Baki said: “The appointment of those seven schools has been suspended as per the directive of the local MP. But we will soon revive the recruitment process and start anew.”
When he was asked about the regulation of informing the committee within 30 days, he said the committee did not inform him of the appointment.
“Even after 30 days, if they appoint someone, I must be informed. Since I received no such letter, those appointments are incomplete,” he said.