More than ten departments at Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) are facing teachers crisis.
Although recruitment circulars were published about eight months ago, the appointments have not been completed, leaving the departments in a difficult situation.
As a result, students are being deprived of quality education, and individual teachers are being forced to bear an unbearable workload. According to those concerned, this crisis has arisen due to the negligence of the university administration.
According to university sources, the Department of Management is running nearly 35 courses for 7 batches with only three teachers. The Department of Climate and Disaster Management (CDM) is conducting around 30 courses for five batches with only four teachers.
The Department of Nursing and Health Science has only three teachers for six batches; the Department of Textile Engineering has four teachers for five batches.
Similarly, the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) is running with only two teachers. The Department of Applied Statistics and Data Science has no teachers at all, classes are being taken by faculty from other departments.
Additionally, the Department of Marketing is running six batches with six teachers, the Department of Industrial and Production Engineering (IPE) has six teachers for five batches, and several other departments are also experiencing teacher shortages.
Investigations reveal that two separate recruitment circulars were published in May and June this year. However, while a few departments hired teachers, most appointments remain incomplete for unknown reasons.
Naeem, a student from the Department of Nursing and Health Science, said, “The regular classes aren’t held, courses are not being completed on time, major nursing subjects have to be taught by external teachers, and we must move between different departments for classes.
“Sometimes we have to attend classes without any fixed routine, which is causing session jams. Due to session jams, we cannot appear for the licensing exam on time,” he said.
“As a result, we are unable to apply for job postings even when they are available,” he added.
Abdullah Al Mamun, a postgraduate student from the Department of Management, said, “Should the teachers take classes or supervise exams? They are struggling to manage both. We want to know from the administration how much longer it will take to appoint new teachers to the department.”
Regarding this issue, the vice-chancellor of JUST said, “Our previous recruitment boards are still in process. Many have already joined. In addition, we have newly received approval from the UGC for 20 more teaching positions. Their circular will be published within this month. Hopefully, once all the recruitment boards are completed, we will no longer have any teacher shortage.”
A teacher, requesting anonymity, said, “To truly overcome the teacher crisis, the vacancies announced in the circular must be filled, and additional teachers should be recruited to replace those who recently went on study leave…almost 50 per cent of the teachers are currently abroad.”
