Ishwardi Govt College students shun classes
More than 8,000 students study at Ishwardi Government College.
However, teacher shortages and irregular classes are depriving them of regular academic instruction. In many departments, honours classes are held only two days a week.
Classes are often cancelled when examinations are scheduled. As a result, students are increasingly dependent on private coaching for their studies, while classroom attendance is also declining.
According to college sources, there are 49 sanctioned teaching posts, but only 31 teachers are currently working.
The posts include two professors, four associate professors, 14 assistant professors, 25 lecturers, three demonstrators and one librarian. There is also no teacher for ICT, a compulsory subject at the higher secondary level.
Established in 1963, the college initially offered only intermediate courses.
BA and BCom (Pass) courses were introduced in the 1969-70 academic year, followed by the BSc course in 1972 and honours courses in 2006-07. The college was nationalised in 1986.
The institution stands on seven acres of land. A newly constructed six-storey building has eased the shortage of classrooms to some extent, but classes have not yet begun there because the building has not received an electricity connection.
The college offers higher secondary and degree (pass) courses, along with honours programmes in Bangla, English, Political Science, Islamic History and Culture, Philosophy, History, Accounting, Management, Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Mathematics.
An investigation found that the reduced class schedule introduced for honours students during the COVID-19 pandemic is still in effect.
Citing a shortage of classrooms, honours classes are held only two days a week. Scheduled classes are also frequently cancelled because of in-course and test examinations.
According to National University guidelines, classroom attendance should be 60 percent. However, attendance at the college is reportedly much lower. Students allege that irregular classes are forcing them to rely on private tutoring.
Some students have also alleged that they are deprived of expected marks in in-course examinations if they do not take private lessons from certain teachers.
Several higher secondary and honours students said classes and attendance remain satisfactory during the initial period after admission. However, attendance starts declining within a month, eventually becoming so low that regular classes are no longer held.
A Class XII science student, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “I am an HSC examinee for 2027. But I have never had the opportunity to attend classes properly at the college.
Since classes are not held regularly, students also stop coming. So I have been forced to take private lessons.”
An honours student said, “The academic situation at Ishwardi Government College, the only government and traditional college in the area, is very poor. Student attendance is low, classes are not held properly, and teachers often come and leave according to their convenience.”
However, the college principal and teachers denied the allegations. Md. Jahangir Alam, associate professor of the History Department and literature and sports secretary of the Teachers’ Council, said, “The principal and teachers are conscious about classroom instruction.
Although attendance is low, teachers have been instructed to continue classes regularly.” He also denied the allegation that some teachers are unwilling to teach.
College Principal Professor Md. Amzad Hossain said, “There is a teacher shortage at the college. Even so, regular classes are being conducted. A few guest teachers have been appointed for this purpose. Students have been instructed to attend classes regularly.
They have also been asked to report if any teacher shows reluctance to conduct classes. We will take various initiatives, including arranging meetings with parents, to increase attendance. The relevant authorities have been informed in writing about filling the vacant teaching posts.”
