Teaching is going on, school activities are not stopped. However, more than half of the government primary schools in Rajshahi do not have permanent head teachers. Out of 1,057 government primary schools in the district, 589 head teacher posts are vacant. As a result, assistant teachers have to handle a large part of the administrative responsibilities of these schools. This is creating various complications in school management, as well as disrupting normal teaching activities.

According to the information of the District Primary Education Office till June this year, there are 1,057 approved posts of head teachers in 1,057 government primary schools in the district. Against this, 468 are working. That is, 589 posts are vacant. As a result, more than 56 percent of the total government primary schools in the district are running without a permanent head teacher. In many of these schools, administrative activities are being carried out by giving acting or current responsibilities to assistant teachers.

Upazila-wise, the biggest shortage of headmaster posts is in Bagmara. There are 75 people working against the 220 approved posts in this upazila. There are 145 vacant posts. Next is Godagari. There are 76 people working against the 165 approved posts in this upazila, 89 vacant. In Tanore, 43 people are working out of 128 posts, 85 vacant. In Durgapur, there are 37 people working against the 83 approved posts, 46 vacant.

In Puthia, 41 people are working against 90 posts, 49 are vacant. In Pobai, 40 people are working against 83 posts, 43 are vacant. In Bagha, 35 people are working against 74 posts, 39 are vacant. In Charghat, 32 people are working against 73 posts, 41 are vacant. In Mohanpur, 41 people are working against 81 posts, 40 are vacant. And in Boalia police station area, 48 people are working against 60 approved posts, 12 posts are vacant.

According to the District Primary Education Office, 80 percent of the approved posts of head teachers are to be filled through promotion and 20 percent through direct recruitment.

According to this, there are 132 promotion-eligible posts in Godagari, 58 in Charghat, 102 in Tanore, 66 in Durgapur, 72 in Puthia, 66 in Paba, 176 in Bagmara, 59 in Bagha, 48 in Boalia and 65 in Mohanpur. In total, the number of promotion-eligible posts in the district is 844. In contrast, only 71 people are working through promotion.

On the other hand, there are 213 directly employable posts as 20 percent. There are 369 people working through direct recruitment in this quota. As a result, there is a major discrepancy in the number of posts filled.

As the post of headmaster is vacant, assistant teachers have been given the current duties in various schools in the district. According to the list of the District Primary Education Office, currently 157 teachers are performing the current duties of headmasters. Of these, 34 are in Bagmara, 20 in Tanore, 20 in Durgapur, 18 in Mohanpur, 17 in Puthia, 15 in Poba, 12 in Bagha, 11 in Godagari and 10 in Charghat.

In the absence of the head teacher, assistant teachers have to handle a large part of the daily administrative work of the school. They have to perform various responsibilities including sending various government information online, participating in meetings, communicating with parents, making administrative decisions, and mid-day meals. This is disrupting the normal teaching activities in many cases.

Acting headmaster of Baghsara Government Primary School in Paba Upazila, Md. Abdul Odud said, “I am performing my duties as an acting headmaster. But it is very difficult for an assistant teacher to handle all the administrative responsibilities. Since I do not have full authority, many urgent decisions cannot be taken.”

Nazmul Haque, acting headmaster of Hatgangopara area of ​​Bagmara upazila, said, “The responsibilities of a headmaster and an acting headmaster are not the same. Many administrative complications arise while performing duties as an acting headmaster. If the government wants, it can appoint acting teachers as headmasters. But we do not understand why they are not being relieved of their duties.”

Rajshahi District Assistant Teachers Association President and Primary Teachers Association General Secretary Harun Or Rashid said, “Promotions were stopped for so long due to the case. Now ACR (evaluation of the last five years) is being sought from assistant teachers. It is hoped that the government is working on this issue and the problem will be resolved in a short time.”

District Primary Education Officer AKM Anwar Hossain said that the higher authorities have been informed to fill the vacant posts. It is hoped that the ministry will take action in this regard soon.