Over half of Khulna primary schools without headmasters

At least 605 of the 1,159 government primary schools in Khulna city and district have been running without headmasters for a long time, hampering both academic and administrative activities.

According to the district primary education office, 605 headmaster posts and 398 assistant teacher posts are currently vacant in the district.

District Primary Education Officer (DPEO) Sheikh Wahidul Alam said 1,159 government primary schools are operating in Khulna city and district, with a significant number of schools functioning without permanent headmasters.

In Khulna city alone, 39 of the 126 government primary schools have no headmasters, said Sadar Thana Primary Education Officer Shahnaj Begum.

Assistant teachers at the affected schools are serving as acting headmasters while continuing their regular teaching duties. Teachers said the additional responsibilities were affecting classroom activities, while they received no extra pay for the added workload.

The teacher shortage has further aggravated the situation, particularly in schools with rising student enrolment. Teachers and guardians said many schools have fewer teachers than required, making it difficult to ensure quality education.

Sabbir Ahmed Piyal, a Class V student at a government primary school, said, “We have to rely on coaching centres because our overburdened teachers cannot provide us with the lessons we need.”

Sukla Karmoker, an assistant teacher at Udayan Government Primary School, said teachers were having to take on the duties of vacant posts because of the shortage. “We have to take five to six classes a day, leaving us exhausted. As a result, it becomes difficult to deliver quality lessons,” she said.

DPEO Sheikh Wahidul Alam said headmaster posts are filled either by promoting assistant teachers or through government recruitment. He said the authorities were aware of the shortage and hoped necessary steps would be taken to fill the vacant posts.

Khulna Divisional Deputy Director of Primary Education Dr Md Shafiqul Islam said a proposal to upgrade assistant teacher posts to headmaster positions had been sent to the higher authorities. “We are trying our best to address the situation. The vacant posts will be filled once teachers are appointed,” he said.

However, Member Secretary of Khulna Nagorik Samaj Advocate Md Babul Hawlader said teacher shortages were not the only problem facing government primary schools. He alleged that negligence by a section of teachers was also affecting education in some rural and urban schools. 

He claimed some teachers remained absent during working hours or left schools before the scheduled closing time. 

He also pointed to conflicts among school managing committees, saying disagreements often prevented useful proposals from being implemented.