Rangamati, Mar 15 (V7N) – The education system in the hill districts, including Rangamati, is facing a serious crisis as many teachers fail to join their posts even after being appointed.

Officials say that due to the remote geography, communication difficulties and lack of interest among teachers recruited from outside the region, many schools in the Chittagong Hill Tracts are operating with severe teacher shortages.

The issue was highlighted by Rangamati District Education Officer Sarit Kumar Chakma at an advocacy meeting on improving the quality of education held at the district education office on Sunday morning.

The meeting was organised by the Conscious Citizens Committee (SCAC) of Transparency International Bangladesh.

According to the district education officer, although teachers were appointed to various schools in Rangamati through the latest public recruitment notice of the Non-Government Teachers Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA), many of them did not join their workplaces.

He said that many teachers from other parts of the country are reluctant to live and work in remote hilly areas, resulting in a real shortage of teachers even after vacant posts are officially filled.

He suggested that giving priority to local candidates in teacher recruitment could significantly reduce the crisis considering the geographical realities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Education experts say the region’s education system has long faced structural problems. Many schools lack adequate teachers, and in several institutions there are almost no teachers for key subjects such as science, mathematics and English, which is seriously affecting the quality of education for students.

The meeting was chaired by SANAC President Professor Banchita Chakma and moderated by TIB Area Coordinator Benzin Chakma, while SANAC member and joint convener of the education sub-committee Gaurika Chakma delivered the welcome speech.

Participants at the meeting also highlighted the lack of basic facilities in many hill schools. Several institutions lack separate toilets for female students, first aid facilities and women-friendly corners, while hygiene and school environment standards remain inadequate.

Speakers stressed the need for school authorities and parents to play a more active role in improving SSC examination results. They also recommended placing English, mathematics and science classes earlier in the daily routine and maintaining communication with absent students through home visits or phone calls.

The meeting also discussed preventing pollution in Kaptai Lake, raising awareness about plastic waste, maintaining school cleanliness and strengthening awareness programmes to prevent eve-teasing.

Speakers said the Active Citizen Group (ACG) is working at the grassroots level under the PACTA project to promote transparency and accountability in the education sector and reduce corruption.

District Education Officer Sarit Kumar Chakma assured that necessary steps would be taken to address the issues raised at the meeting.

However, education stakeholders warned that without effective policy-level decisions that take into account the unique realities of the hill region, the teacher shortage and other systemic problems in the education sector may continue for a long time.

END/AMR/RH/