Ishwardi Govt College 33 teachers for 10,657 students

Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :

Teacher crisis has become evident in Ishwardi Government College. There are only 33 teachers to teach a total of 10,657 students of Honors, Graduation (Pass) and Higher Secondary. As a result, there is an extreme problem in teaching students by rooting according to the rules. At the time of college nationalization 39 years ago, the number of teachers in senior positions was 44. Its 11 posts are empty. Later more subjects were opened but there were no teachers in them either. With the introduction of honors courses, the number of posts in the college has not increased as per the rules. Teachers are struggling to take regular classes due to teacher crisis. The teachers say that in the current situation, the educational program is being conducted in coordination with guest teachers. Due to which the students are mostly out of class and the dependence on private has increased.
As per National Science Policy-2010 emphasis was laid on teacher-student ratio of 1:30. And in Ishwardi Government College, the teacher-student ratio is 1:322.94. That means there is only 1 teacher for 323 students.
After going to the college on the ground and talking to the principal, teachers and students, it is known that this college, established in 1963 in Ishwardi, an important town in the northern region, was nationalized in 1986. Undergraduate (pass) courses and higher secondary classes were in operation at the time of nationalization. Later, honors courses in 12 subjects were introduced step by step. Introduction of Honors Course in Economics and Zoology is under process. During this period extensive development activities took place in the college.
Principal, Vice-Principal, Teachers Meeting Hall, Auditorium and 12 Departments are air-conditioned and modernly furnished. There is a huge library but no librarian. There are modern digital labs and 4 science laboratories. Two posts of laboratory inspector are also vacant. ICT subject is compulsory in higher secondary class and 2 subjects of commerce in honors but there is no teacher. Similarly, there is no teacher even though the agricultural science subject is open in the college. Principal said that teachers of physics, management and mathematics take ICT classes.
Principal of the college Professor SM Rabiul Islam said that 44 posts were created in the college during nationalization. At present there are no teachers in 11 posts. After nationalization, the number of students increased with the opening of several new subjects including honors courses. But new posts are not being created. As a result, teaching is going on with part-time teachers in some departments. The demand letter was sent to the ministry several times but no action was taken. According to the rules, there should be a total of 10 teachers including 1 professor, 2 associate professors, 3 assistant professors and 4 lecturers in the honors category in government colleges. As such there should be 140 teachers in 14 departments of Honors only. There are also several higher secondary subjects including ICT and Agricultural Science. There is also the possibility of opening masters classes and the demand of the local population. But Masters cannot be opened due to shortage of teachers.