Heads of various educational institutions across the country have been resigning since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5.
Now there are no vice-chancellors, principals and headmasters in a number of universities, colleges, schools and madrasas in the country. The wave of the resignation of heads of the various institutions hits the education activities. There has been a vacuum and disorder in many educational institutions.
In the meantime, the current interim government has dissolved governing bodies and managing committees of all the non-government schools, colleges and madrasas across the country. Divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners (DCs), and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) have been appointed as presidents of the governing bodies or managing committees for the educational intuitions.
Various problems have arisen for the removal of the president of the government body or managing committee. Each UNO or DC is now president of governing bodies and managing committees of a number of education institutions simultaneously.
In the subsequent context, there is already a lot of work pressure on these field level officials. On the other hand, they have got the responsibility of municipal administrators. In this situation, it has become impossible for them to perform the duties of the president of governing bodies and managing committees of schools, colleges and madrasas.
Some field level officials said that the workload has increased in the changed political situation of the country. Against this backdrop, they are struggling to fulfill these extra responsibilities of schools, colleges and madrasas.
“As ex-officio, I have also been entrusted with the responsibility of Administrator of Kanaighat Upazila Parishad. I am struggling to fulfill the duties of upazila administration and administrator of the upazila parsiahd. In this situation, I don’t understand how I will perform the duties of president of various schools, colleges and madrasas. There are about 50 non-government schools, colleges and madrasas in my upazila. However, I have no previous experiences of performing such duties. People are coming from different educational institutions every day, but I am struggling to provide solutions,” said Farzana Islam, UNO of Kanaighat Upazila in Sylhet.
Against this backdrop, the government is taking the decision of forming ad-hoc committee for running the non-government schools, colleges and madrasas. The National University (NU) has already issued a circular for forming ad-hoc committees in all the non-government colleges on the Monthly Payment Order (MPO) system under its affiliation.
In the circular, the NU authorities outlined that a minimum bachelor’s degree is needed to serve as the president and other members of the ad-hoc committee.
In another circular signed by Fahima Sultana, college inspector (acting) of the National University; it was said that the president of the ad-hoc committee will appoint the principal of the colleges, where there are no principals currently, and the ad-hoc committee will serve other necessary duties.
Sources said that such a circular will be issued from the authorities concerned for other non-government educational institutions on the Monthly Payment Order (MPO) system. Direction for forming ad-hoc committee for the high schools and madrasas will come soon, said sources at Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, Technical and Madrasa Education Division, and Islamic Arabic University.
An official of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education told the Bangladesh Post that they will issued a circular to for ad-hoc in high schools across the country.
The field level government officials and others welcomed the decision of the government. “The news of formation of ad-hoc committee is positive. This will not only reduce the pressure, but also the smooth journey in the educational institutions,” said Farzana Islam, UNO of Kanaighat Upazila.
The circular for non-government colleges stated that decision regarding colleges was made in order to ensure smooth academic and administrative activities in the colleges. The non-government colleges have been instructed to submit a form to the university proposing the names of three individuals who have at least a bachelor’s degree. These names will be considered for nomination as presidents and professional members of ad-hoc committees.
The condition of the bachelor’s degree was included aiming to ensure that the committees will be formed with qualified individuals who can support the educational institutions effectively.
The initiative reflects the interim government’s commitment to bringing reform in the educational sector, ensuring that the qualified individuals will lead the non-educational institutions across the country. The latest steps will help improve the overall situation of the educational institutions affiliated with the National University.
Earlier, the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education issued an order to dissolve and reconstitute the management committees of all government primary schools across the country. This decision was officially communicated on August 21 through a circular from the School-2 section of the ministry.
As per the circular, the ministry highlighted the need for reorganization of the committee due to the current situation. However, specific details were not provided in the circular.
