Staff Reporter :
Barisal University (BU) is struggling to meet international standards in terms of the teacher-student ratio, lagging behind other government universities. With a student population of 10,099, the university has only 210 teachers, 54 of whom are on leave, representing 26 per cent of the total.
As a result, BU’s teacher-student ratio stands at 1:65, meaning there is only one teacher for every 65 students, far exceeding the international norm of one teacher per 20 students in higher education.
The teacher shortage has led to difficulties in maintaining the quality of education, with the deputy vice-chancellor also stepping in to teach regularly. This has contributed to growing session congestion in most departments.
Despite being established 14 years ago, the university, located on the banks of the Kirtankhola River, has been unable to provide sufficient classrooms for its students.
The university needs 75 classrooms to accommodate students across its 25 departments, but only 36 classrooms are available for 150 batches. Consequently, students are sometimes taught in open fields due to the lack of space.
The university’s organogram lists 453 teaching positions, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) approving 266 posts. However, only 210 teachers are currently employed. Of these, 54 are on academic leave, leaving just 156 teachers to cover the teaching needs of the 25 departments.
The university is also facing a shortage of professors, with only one professor in place despite having 49 posts listed in the organogram. Ten professor positions are vacant, and there has been no recruitment for a long time, despite the arrival of new batches every year.
As a result, individual teachers are responsible for teaching an average of more than eight courses each semester, including supervising research students. This heavy workload makes it difficult for teachers to manage their classes and administrative duties.
The situation is particularly dire in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, which was established in 2018 and currently has six batches.
According to the UGC’s guidelines, the department should have more than 10 teachers, but only five have been appointed. Two of these are on academic leave, leaving just three teachers to manage 144 students.
This has resulted in teachers being required to take on an average of eight courses, making it almost impossible to assess such a large number of students and conduct class activities.
The teacher shortage is similarly affecting other departments, with seven teachers managing 550 students in the Mathematics Department, five teachers covering 359 students in the Geology and Mining Department, and six teachers responsible for 558 students in the Marketing Department.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Golam Rabbani stated, “We have to take classes due to the teacher shortage. I am teaching in the university’s social work department whenever I have time.
Recruitment for new teachers is pending, and if this process moves forward, it will help resolve the issue.”
Additionally, 54 teachers who are currently abroad for further studies are expected to return in phases, which will alleviate the teacher shortage. Once they return, the educational momentum will improve.
The university is also grappling with a severe infrastructure crisis. There are only 36 classrooms for 10,000 students, with 28 located in two academic buildings and eight in the administrative building.
The university also faces a shortage of laboratories, with only 32 available. Moreover, there are only 68 rooms for teachers, including the offices of department chairs, with three to four teachers squeezed into each room.
Due to this lack of space, the vice-chancellor and treasurer have been working in the same room for an extended period.
Students have complained about overcrowded classrooms and the disruption to teaching caused by the lack of space. As a result, session congestion is increasing, leading to frustration among students.
The quality of education is also suffering due to insufficient research activities, as some teachers engage in research on their own initiative, but funding for research is inadequate. This hampers the overall educational experience.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Shuchita Sharmin acknowledged the crisis, stating, “No infrastructure development has taken place at the university since its inception. Since taking charge a few months ago, I have seen the extent of the crises, including issues with teachers, classrooms, and accommodation.
We are working on obtaining project approval to address these issues, and once approved, the situation will improve in a short time.”
