Chaparkona Monija Abul Kalam High School in Sarishabari of Jamalpur has more than two hundred students on paper but in reality there are no students. As a result, teachers pass the time by chatting. This scene can be seen in the educational institution located in Chaparkono area of Doyle Union of Upazila.
According to school authority sources, in 1987, some students of the area established the school with their own land and funding and in 1997, the school was included in the MPO with 12 teaching staff. Then three teachers retired. Currently there are 9 teachers and staff in this educational institution.
On the surface, it can be seen that every classroom from sixth to tenth class is empty. The classroom benches are covered with dust because they have not been used for a long time. The head teacher is not in the office. The assistant teachers are also sitting on the school ground with the staff and chatting.
However, satisfactory attendance is recorded in the attendance book even if the student is not present.
Hachen Ali’s house is next to the school. Seeing the condition of the institution in front of his eyes, he said, the teachers of the school come to the school every day and sit on the ground with chairs, read papers and pass the time by talking. Sometimes two or four students come to school but they are not taken properly. The students spent two hours talking and went home.
College students Shakib Hasan, Khokon and many others said that the school is devoid of students, but no teacher has ever expressed concern about this. Today the school is on the verge of destruction mainly due to the negligence of the teachers.
Sarwar Alam, son of late Khush Mahmud Sarkar, the school’s landlord, said, “We have donated one bigha of land to this institution. The school is closing today due to teachers’ negligence. For this I will blame the head teacher and the president of the managing committee of the school. In addition, the upazila secondary education officer does not see how the teachers and staff of the school without students withdraw their salaries and allowances?
Zahurul Islam Manik, president of the school’s managing committee, said that if the teachers do not come to the institution regularly and do not teach the students, it is the responsibility of the headmaster to see that. He never informed me about it. I know this and will see.
Ajmeri Begum, head teacher of Chaparkona Monija Abul Kalam High School said that the attendance of students is low because I am not in the school. Assistant teachers visit the school regularly and teach. But the attendance of school students is very low. Efforts are underway to improve it.
Sarishabari Upazila Secondary Education Officer. Mozammel Haque said, “I don’t know about the poor condition of that institution.” Necessary action will be taken after inquiry.
Sarishabari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharmin Akhter said, “I will look into the matter by talking to the education officer and if there are no students, legal action will be taken against the school.”
