When a century is not enough

Though over a century has gone by since its establishment, the Government Textile Vocational Institute in Bagerhat, is yet to get a permanent campus.

Moreover, in absence of a permanent campus students are being deprived of practical training, which is the most important part of vocational education.

Apart from this, the institution is also suffering from shortage of teachers and other staff.

Since the year 2004, the lone vocation institute in the district, has been running at a rented house in Dashani area of Bagerhat town. 

 According to the sources at the government institute, the institute was established at a rented house in Alia Madrasa Road area in 1911.

But, after the country's independence, the vocational institute was renamed as Textile Vocational Institute and has been running under the ministry of textiles and jute since then.

The institution has a total of 160 seats under four trades (subjects) that include apparel manufacturing, weaving, sweater-t-shirt making, and dyeing, printing and finishing.

But due to inadequate educational facilities, the institution currently has only 98 students, 69 in Class IX and 29 in Class X.

Mentionable, when 80 students were supposed to appear in the public exams every year, only 38 of them appeared in this year's exam.

Out of a total of 17 posts of teachers and other staff, five posts including the superintendent are currently lying vacant.

On the other hand, several costly machines like circular knitting machine, weaving air jet loom, and dyeing machine are gradually getting damaged due to lack of classrooms and open spaces at the rented house.

Shraboni Debnath, a student of Apparel Manufacturing, said they are being deprived of practical trainings as most of the equipment are not installed for lack of required spaces.

Another student Tamim Hasan said they do not even have a playground for physical sports.

Moreover, for higher study, they have to go to either Barishal, Faridpur and Gopalganj or Khulna, he added.

Acting Superintendent at Bagerhat Textile Vocational Institute Maksudul Hasan Sumon said the ministry concern will soon issue a letter regarding the land acquisition.