Some unscrupulous officials at the district civil surgeon’s office in Barguna are said to have pocketed around Tk six lakh from primary school teachers in the name of fitness test, a perquisite to come under the nationalisation scheme of the government.
Teachers are paying Tk350 each for the test as they need health certificate to be nationalised. The amount was found to be higher than the real fee by Tk 100. The authorities concerned, however, appeared to be oblivious of the fact.
As part of the nationalisation process of schools, a total of 1,528 teachers of 392 registered primary schools in the district are set to come under the nationalisation process, according to information gathered from the district primary education office.
Although the teachers paid Tk 350 each for the test, many were found reluctant to disclose the matter and it was Rahman, peon at the civil surgeon’s office, who collected the money.
While collecting, he occasionally referred to ‘Boro Babu’ (chief assistant officer), saying the money was being collected according to the order of Boro Babu.
Mossaraf Hossain, headmaster of Paschim Ghotkhali Primary School in Aamtoli of Barguna, said four teachers of the school so far had paid Tk 350 for the test.
Momtaz Begum and Shefali Rani, assistant teachers of the school, said having paid Tk 350, they were given fitness certificates.
Chief assistant officer at the civil surgeon’s office Abdul Khaleq claimed the money being charged followed a procedure that had been around for years.
“There is no specific amount defined by the government in this regard,” he claimed. Khaleq declined to comment when asked about the allegation against staff of his office collecting money from teachers under his directive.
Contacted, acting district civil surgeon Dr Rustam Ali said: “Since the British regime, there is a rule of taking Tk 16 for health test that could reach a maximum of Tk 250 if ratio of the value of currency is considered.”
The civil surgeon claimed he was not aware of the fact of taking Tk 350 in the name of fitness test. He, via this correspondent, also asked teachers to meet him if any of them was charged extra.