Investigation finds only 4 students in govt primary school after news in Rajapur
Md. Naiem Hasan Emon, Rajapur (Jhalakathi)
Following a news report, the Rajapur Upazila Primary Education Office issued a show-cause notice to Sahida Khanam, the headteacher of the 99 No. Uttar Purba Chhota Kaibartakhali Government Primary School in Jhalakathi’s Rajapur Upazila.
Besides , Upazila Assistant Education Officer Md. Riaz conducted an on-site investigation to verify the number of students present at the school.
Previously, various media outlets published reports titled “Five Teachers and Six Students Running a Government Primary School” and "Headteacher Takes School Laptop Home for Personal Use ". The reports highlighted that the school had only six students in classes three, four, and five, despite having five teachers. Furthermore, allegations surfaced that the headteacher was using the school’s laptop at home for personal purposes.
In response to the reports, on July 7, the Rajapur Upazila Primary Education Office issued a show-cause notice to Headteacher Sahida Khanam, asking her to provide a written response within three working days. Simultaneously, Md. Riaz was instructed to investigate the matter. During the investigation, he verified the number of students in the presence of the headteacher.
In her response to the show-cause notice, Sahida Khanam claimed that until February of the current year, the school had 51 students on record, which has now reduced to 35 due to various reasons. She stated that on the day journalists visited the school, 25 students were present—19 in pre-primary, first, and second grades, and 6 in third to fifth grades. She also explained that the school’s laptop was kept at her home due to rain.
However, the investigation report by Assistant Education Officer Md. Riaz stated that on the day of the visit, 12 students were present in pre-primary, 6 in first grade, 4 in second grade, 2 in third grade, 1 in fourth grade, and 1 in fifth grade, totaling 26 students.
Several locals, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that while the school shows a higher number of students on paper, only 10-15 students are typically present daily. They further claimed that students were brought in to inflate attendance figures during the investigation. They also noted that the school lacks a multimedia classroom, teachers do not arrive on time, and students are often dismissed early, allowing teachers to leave prematurely.
Rajapur Upazila Primary Education Officer Aktar Hossain said, the headteacher’s response to the show-cause notice and the investigation report have been forwarded to the Jhalakathi District Primary Education Office, where further legal action will be taken.
Jhalakathi District Primary Education Officer Zahidul Kabir Tuhin said, Rajapur Upazila Education Officer has sent the investigation report and the response to the show-cause notice. The matter is now under legal process.”
Previously, various media outlets published reports titled “Five Teachers and Six Students Running a Government Primary School” and "Headteacher Takes School Laptop Home for Personal Use ". The reports highlighted that the school had only six students in classes three, four, and five, despite having five teachers. Furthermore, allegations surfaced that the headteacher was using the school’s laptop at home for personal purposes.
In response to the reports, on July 7, the Rajapur Upazila Primary Education Office issued a show-cause notice to Headteacher Sahida Khanam, asking her to provide a written response within three working days. Simultaneously, Md. Riaz was instructed to investigate the matter. During the investigation, he verified the number of students in the presence of the headteacher.
In her response to the show-cause notice, Sahida Khanam claimed that until February of the current year, the school had 51 students on record, which has now reduced to 35 due to various reasons. She stated that on the day journalists visited the school, 25 students were present—19 in pre-primary, first, and second grades, and 6 in third to fifth grades. She also explained that the school’s laptop was kept at her home due to rain.
However, the investigation report by Assistant Education Officer Md. Riaz stated that on the day of the visit, 12 students were present in pre-primary, 6 in first grade, 4 in second grade, 2 in third grade, 1 in fourth grade, and 1 in fifth grade, totaling 26 students.
Several locals, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that while the school shows a higher number of students on paper, only 10-15 students are typically present daily. They further claimed that students were brought in to inflate attendance figures during the investigation. They also noted that the school lacks a multimedia classroom, teachers do not arrive on time, and students are often dismissed early, allowing teachers to leave prematurely.
Rajapur Upazila Primary Education Officer Aktar Hossain said, the headteacher’s response to the show-cause notice and the investigation report have been forwarded to the Jhalakathi District Primary Education Office, where further legal action will be taken.
Jhalakathi District Primary Education Officer Zahidul Kabir Tuhin said, Rajapur Upazila Education Officer has sent the investigation report and the response to the show-cause notice. The matter is now under legal process.”
