Student shortage persists in Kalkini Girls’ School

A nearly seven-decade-old girls’ school in Madaripur’s Kalkini has been left virtually without students amid allegations of irregularities against its headteacher and a prolonged absence of a managing committee.

Jajira Lower Secondary Girls’ School, established in 1953 in Jajira village under Ramzanpur Union of Kalkini upazila, once bustled with hundreds of female students. Today, its classrooms are empty and rows of benches remain covered in dust.

The school has permanent buildings, a spacious playground and teachers, and is authorised to conduct classes from Class VI to Class VIII. However, no classes were found being conducted during a recent visit, and no students were seen on the premises.

Locals alleged that regular student attendance is still being shown in the school’s official registers despite the absence of students.

They blamed headteacher Abdullah Al Mahmud, popularly known as Hiru Master, for the school’s deteriorating condition, alleging various irregularities and negligence. They claimed that he does not regularly attend the school and sometimes visits only once or twice a month before signing the attendance register for the entire month.

The headteacher has also been accused of taking large sums of money from several people by promising them jobs against vacant posts at the institution.

Kalkini Upazila Secondary Education Officer Ashrafuzzaman said an investigation committee had been formed to examine the overall situation at the school.

“After completing the investigation, the committee’s report was sent to the higher authorities through the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).

Administrative measures will be taken soon based on the recommendations of the investigation report,” he said.

At the same time, the school has been operating without a managing committee for a long period, resulting in a lack of administrative oversight, locals said.

Local Union Parishad member Abdul Salek said parents are being forced to enrol their children elsewhere because teachers do not conduct classes properly.

“There is no end to the headteacher’s irregularities and corruption. Even when people speak out against him, he uses his influence with higher authorities to suppress the allegations. As a result, the institution is now facing destruction,” he said.

Ripon Bhuiyan, who alleged that he paid money for a job, said the headteacher took money from him promising to appoint him to a vacant fourth-class post.

“Money was also taken from several others. Now he is neither giving us jobs nor returning the money. He himself does not attend the school properly and visits only once a month to fulfil the formality,” he alleged.

However, headteacher Abdullah Al Mahmud denied all allegations against him.

Describing the allegation of financial transactions as completely baseless, he said he has a dispute with a local group that wanted to change the name of the school.

“I did not agree to their demand, so a group is spreading false propaganda against me. Parents have reduced sending their children to the school because of this local dispute. I am not solely responsible for the situation,” he said.

Local residents, including Arifuzzaman, demanded that regular classes be ensured and qualified teachers appointed to revive the historic institution.