Education of 5,279 students in eight government schools under seven upazilas of hill district Bandarban has been hampered seriously due to teachers’ shortage.
According to local sources, there are 38 teachers at Bandarban Government High School out of 53, 37 at Bandarban Govt Girls’ High School out of 52, 5 at Rowangchari High School out of 11 in Rowangchari upazila, 5 at Ruma High School out of 23 in Ruma upazila, 11 at Lama High School out of 27 in Lama upazila, 9 at Naikhyongchari High School in Naikhyongchari upazila, and 5 at Alikadam High School in Alikadam upazila.
Sadek Ruhul Amin, general secretary of Bandarban Human Rights Commission said: “The students of the district are deprived of their educational rights which may led the dropout.”
There are 913 students at Bandarban Government High School, 813 at Girls’ High School, 512 at Rowangchari, 469 at Ruma, 819 at Lama, 600 at Naikhyongchari, 656 at Alikadam and 407 at Thanchi High School.
Meanwhile, a parent who wished not to be named said he knew about the shortage of commerce teacher from his daughter who is studying in Class XI. “This is very worrying,” he said.
A Class XI student said if there was no math teacher, why students studied in the school.
Ukraching Marma, Class VIII student of Rowangchari High School said: “Sometimes we have to return home without classes as there are no teachers in the classes.” There have been no headteachers in Ruma, Rowangchari and Alikadam schools for a long time.
Shirina Akter Rokhshana, vice chairman of Alikadam High School said: “The results of the students in the district are not satisfactory due to shortage of teachers.”
Saiful Islam. Class VII student of Bandarban High School said: “Our education is seriously hampered for want of teachers.”
Tonmoy Das, SSC examinee from the school said: “We could not complete our syllabuses as there are no teachers in many subjects.”
When contacted, the district education officer Purabi Chowdhury said: “I have asked the higher authorities to take step immediately.”
