Precarious primary education

Out of 3348 primary schools in Sylhet division, 135 are running without headmasters and 196 without assistant headmasters for about five years, sources concerned said.

Performance of schools are poorly monitored due to shortage of education officials.

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The crisis persists because of bureaucratic dilly-dallying in appointment of teachers and officials. Recruitment was suspended several times in the last five years, they said.

Out of 1069 schools in Sylhet district, 29 are running without headmasters and 43 without assistant headmasters.

The vacant posts of headmaster and assistant headmaster are 43 and 111 respectively in Sunamganj, 34 and 14 in Habiganj, and 29 and 28 in Moulvibazar.

On the other hand, 64 posts of assistant education officer are vacant. Of these, 14 out of 63 are in Sylhet, 21 out of 45 in Sunamganj, 17 out of 41 in Habiganj and 12 out of 38 in Moulvibazar.

One post of education officer, 112 of administrative officer and 14 of upazila education officer are vacant for long.

When contacted, the Deputy Director of Primary Education Directorate said the vacancies have been created over a long time. Steps are being taken to fill the vacancies, he said but could not specify the time frame.