At least 282 posts of primary school headmasters have been vacant for long owing to legal issues.
Although there is immense pressure with the increase in the number of students, 270 posts of assistant teachers have long been vacant as well.
The situation has hampered the quality of education opined guardians.
Sources at the district primary education office said there are a total of 552 vacant posts in schools of the eight upazilas. Of them, 44 posts are in Sadar, 99 in Kachua, 56 in Hajiganj, 36 in Haimchar, 74 in Shahrasti, 105 in Faridganj, 24 in Matalab Dakkhin and 113 in Matalab Uttar.
Where student and teacher ratio is supposed to be 50:1, there is only one teacher for more than a hundred students.
Chandpur Primary School Teachers’ Samity President Hafez Ahmed said the existing teachers of the schools are struggling to deal with so many students.
Hafez also stated that a writ petition was filed with the High Court in 2009 on the promotion to the headmaster positions, settlement of which has come recently and the stagnant situation would disappear soon.
Chandpur Primary Education Officer Md Khurshed Alam said he could do nothing till the court came up with a solution to the problem of filling the headmaster positions.
The appointing of assistant teachers was in the pipeline while the appointment of the teachers who are under the Monthly Payment Order (MPO) has stalled temporarily. The schools are functioning with the deputation of teachers, the education officer further said.
