Future of students uncertain

Haji Mohammad Mohsin Government High School.Photo: STAR

Haji Mohammad Mohsin Government High School has been facing shortage of teachers for long, making the future of the students uncertain.
“We just have nine teachers for around 1,100 students in two shifts,” said Abhijit Chowdhury, a day-shift student of class X.
Abhijit said six classes are held a day in both shifts at the school for lack of teachers while eight classes are usually held a day in other schools.
When asked, Abdul Latif, headmaster of the school, said the double shift was introduced in the school on January 1, 2009 without creating new post for teachers.
The school has only nine posts for teachers, he said adding, according to the government rule, a school having single shift should have 26 teachers and the number should be double in case of the schools with double shifts.
“We have just nine posts, out of 52, for the teachers in a school with double shifts,” he said, adding, “How will the students get proper education in such a situation?”
“I have written to the secretary of education ministry about the shortage of teachers, requesting him to take proper steps in this regard,” the headmaster said, adding that there was no initiative still from the ministry to create new posts.
The students lose their interest to study here for lack of teachers, said Kamal Uddin Jafory, a teacher. He said some 100 students had drawn transfer certificates this year.
“I take 12 classes a day as for shortage of teachers,” he said. “Is it possible for nine teachers to teach 1,100 students properly?”
Osman Gani, another teacher, said the government has appointed teachers at 82 schools with double shifts throughout the country this year except Hazi Muhammad Mohsin Government High School.
Contacted, Prof Noman-ur-Rashid, director general of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), could not be reached for a comment.
Abhishek Saha, Jubair Hasan, Abhijit Chowdhury and Shubhra Chowdhury of class X said the school does not have a playground. They said the students can not play during the leisure period for want of a playground.
The annual sports competition is usually held at the playground of Haji Mohammad Mohsin College. “We sometimes go to this ground to play football or cricket but we have to stop playing whenever the college students come to play,” said Jubair.
The school was established in 1874 as Govt Mohsin College High School. It was separated from the college in 1996. Built in the lap of nature, the school is surrounded by hills.
If the authority concerned takes necessary steps to appoint required number of teachers it would be one of the best educational institutions in the port city.