As many as 758 of the 1,464 government primary schools in Gaibandha are operating without head teachers, affecting classroom teaching and administrative activities at the institutions, particularly in remote and char areas.
According to the District Primary Education Office, the vacancies are spread across all seven upazilas of the district.
Of the 259 government primary schools in Sundarganj, 89 have no head teacher. The figure is 111 out of 171 in Saghata, 82 out of 199 in Sadullapur, 125 out of 215 in Palashbari, 164 out of 270 in Gobindaganj, 81 out of 129 in Fulchhari and 106 out of 221 in Gaibandha Sadar.
Assistant teachers have been assigned to serve as acting head teachers at the schools with vacant posts. However, local residents have alleged that the arrangement has affected supervision and regular teaching and administrative activities at some schools.
A visit to several schools found varying situations, with local residents alleging that some schools are effectively operating only in name.
They alleged that some acting head teachers attend schools only occasionally, citing meetings and official duties, while some others spend time at upazila education offices or remain busy with personal affairs, leaving other teachers to handle routine responsibilities.
Md Saiduzzaman Sakar, chairman of Mollarchar Union Parishad, said primary school teachers have many responsibilities but often fail to give adequate attention to the education of children living in char areas.
He alleged that some teachers visit schools mainly at the end of the month to sign attendance registers for their salaries.
The UP chairman said when a school has no head teacher, an acting head teacher may sometimes sign the attendance register for several days at once and then leave for personal work, making it difficult to ensure accountability.
The situation is particularly concerning in 165 char-area primary schools in Saghata, Fulchhari, Sundarganj and Gaibandha Sadar upazilas, local representatives said.
They called for measures to ensure that head teachers remain in their respective school areas, either through permanent appointments or suitable local arrangements.
They also warned that when other teachers find that an acting head teacher is absent, some of them may also stay away from school or become involved in personal affairs, depriving children of regular classroom instruction.
Contacted over the issue, Gaibandha District Primary Education Officer Lakshman Kumar Das said the 758 schools with vacant head-teacher posts are currently being run by acting head teachers.
“We have informed the higher authorities of the vacancies and requested steps to recruit head teachers,” he said.
The prolonged vacancies have raised concerns over regular teaching and effective management of primary schools, particularly in remote char areas of the district.