A 'Higher' crisis in elementary education
Representational image drawn by AI.
Most of the government primary schools in Jessore are standing at the crossroads of two simultaneous crises. On one side, there are massive vacancies for head teachers and assistant teachers; on the other, the school buildings are dilapidated and turned hazardous. With no teachers and no safe classrooms, the primary education system is facing a 'higher' crisis.
Although the education administration is trying to keep schools functional through ad hoc measures and arranging, rearranging staff assignments, teachers and guardians say this only makes the depth of the crisis more evident.
According to the latest data from the District Primary Education Office, there are 1,289 government primary schools across eight upazilas. In these schools, a total of 1,306 posts for head teachers and assistant teachers are vacant. Among these, 691 head teacher posts and 615 assistant teacher posts are empty. This means nearly half of the schools are effectively being run without permanent head teachers.
However, the teacher shortage is not the only problem plaguing primary education. According to the demand letter for the 'Emergency in Education' sector for the 2025-26 academic year from the District Primary Education Office, the buildings of 48 government primary schools are dilapidated, risky, and unfit for use. In some places, plaster is falling off the roofs; in others, large cracks have appeared in the walls. In many schools, classes are being conducted daily under the constant threat of accidents.
The severity of the teacher crisis becomes most apparent in the upazila-wise breakdown. In Monirampur Upazila, 168 out of 267 schools have no head teachers. Additionally, in Sadar Upazila, 126 out of 250 schools; in Sharsha, 82 out of 125; in Chougachha, 76 out of 139; in Jhikargachha, 72 out of 131; in Abhaynagar, 70 out of 117; in Bagharpara, 61 out of 102; and in Keshabpur, 36 out of 138 schools have vacant head teacher posts.
Alongside the head teacher crisis, the shortage of assistant teachers is also weakening educational activities. The district has 7,911 approved posts for assistant teachers, including pre-primary. Of these, 615 posts are vacant. The crisis is worst in Monirampur, where 154 assistant teacher posts are empty. Besides this, Sadar has 107 vacant posts, Keshabpur 74, Sharsha 72, Abhaynagar 56, Bagharpara 55, Chougachha 54, and Jhikargachha has 43 vacant assistant teacher posts.
Vacancies are not the only problem; legal complications have become another major obstacle to recruitment and promotion. According to the District Primary Education Office, recruitment or promotion for 37 posts has been stalled due to lawsuits. Among these, 33 are head teacher posts and 4 are assistant teacher posts.
Due to the absence of permanent head teachers, in most schools, senior assistant teachers have been given the charge of acting head teachers or temporary responsibilities. As a result, they have to handle both administrative duties and classroom teaching simultaneously. This not only disrupts the schools' administrative functions but also hampers regular instruction.
In the words of Jahangir Hossain, President of the Bangladesh Primary Teachers' Association, Jessore Sadar Upazila branch, "The absence of head teachers has increased the burden of official work. At the same time, it has become difficult to continue classroom teaching. Unless permanent head teachers are appointed or promoted quickly, it will not be possible to maintain the quality of education. As a result, learning deficits among students are also increasing."
According to educationists, this crisis is not just administrative; it is also a major threat to the quality of education. Professor Mostafizur Rahman believes that the head teacher is the lifeblood of a school. The absence of head teachers and the shortage of assistant teachers in a large number of schools are disrupting teaching.
However, the education administration says that efforts are underway to resolve the crisis. "This vacancy has been created due to legal complications and long-pending promotions. For now, administrative activities of the schools are being carried out by assigning temporary responsibilities," said G.M. Alamgir Kabir, District Primary Education Officer (acting charge). He added that the recruitment process for assistant teachers is in its final stage and hopes the vacancies will be filled soon.
