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A severe shortage of headteachers has disrupted the functioning of government primary schools in Rangpur, with 669 of the district’s 1,455 schools currently operating without a permanent headteacher.
The vacancies account for nearly 46 per cent of all government primary schools in the district. For years, assistant teachers have been assigned as acting headteachers, but the arrangement has affected administrative activities and classroom teaching.
According to the district primary education office, headteacher posts are vacant in all eight upazilas. The highest number of vacancies is in Mithapukur, where 146 of 275 schools have no headteacher. In Badarganj, 110 of 176 posts are vacant, while Pirganj has 125 vacancies out of 236 schools and Pirgachha 94 out of 178.
Other vacancies include 60 in Gangachara, 56 in Taraganj, 50 in Kaunia and 28 in Rangpur Sadar.
Teachers said the promotion of assistant teachers to headteacher posts had remained stalled for years due to a court case over seniority involving teachers of nationalised non-government primary schools.
The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education said the legal complication had prevented the promotion of around 32,000 assistant teachers nationwide. Following the dismissal of the case, the process of preparing lists of eligible assistant teachers for promotion and sending them to the Public Service Commission has begun.
Acting headteachers said they face difficulties managing administrative responsibilities while continuing to teach as assistant teachers. In some schools, their instructions are also not readily accepted by colleagues, creating coordination problems.
The shortage has also affected student attendance. At Amaipur Government Primary School in Mithapukur, for example, more than 100 students are enrolled, but local residents said only around 30 to 40 attend classes regularly.
Rangpur District Primary Education Officer Md Nazrul Islam said the shortage was disrupting normal school activities. Authorities are using deputations to manage some schools while steps are being taken to promote serving assistant teachers.
He said 387 newly selected assistant teachers in Rangpur are awaiting placement. Their joining on October 1 is expected to ease the teacher shortage to some extent.
