Teacher shortage hits the newly introduced pre-primary section in government primary schools.
Besides, poor infrastructure, lack of resources and other entertainment facilities are also bar to effective teaching in the academia.
In many government primary schools, there are no classrooms for pre-primary students while the learners are to take classes in the same classroom along with other students.
School teachers said they did not get an adequate number of books for the children to give. In classes, some children manage to get books and some do not.
Teachers added that due to shortage of teachers in schools it is quite difficult for them to conduct the pre-primary section.
“The condition of government primary schools is not very good. There are many schools where normal classes from class I to class V are conducted amid difficulties while pre-primary section is a burden for them,” Aminul Islam, head teacher of Monipur Government Primary School told the Dhaka Tribune.
He said most schools also do not have sufficient teaching aid for the children.
“The classroom for pre-primary children should be entertaining,” he suggested. The teacher stressed the need for adequate number of books for the children enrolled in the pre-primary section.
Abdur Razzaque, a schoolteacher in Kishorgonj told the Dhaka Tribune over phone there is no classroom for the pre-primary students in some schools in the area, and the students take classes with students of other classes.
Asked about it, Dhaka University Institute of Education Research Prof Siddiqur Rahman said if resources are not adequate, pre-primary won’t be effective.
“Teachers should be properly trained and there should be adequate facilities for the pre-primary section to make it effective,” he said.
Manzoor Ahmed, senior adviser to the Brac University’s Institute of Education Development, said: There should be a dedicated properly equipped classroom and so should be the teachers for pre-primary sections.
Pre-primary section was introduced in government primary schools from 2011, with a view to increase enrollment rates in primary education.
Director (policy and operation) of Directorate of Primary Education Faruque Jalil said they are working on the problems of pre-primaries in the government primary schools and will take steps to solve those soon.
“It is newly introduced and we have got good response from guardians. I don’t think the problems will last long,” he added.
He said the process of recruiting teachers for pre-primary sections in every government schools is underway.
