A government primary school in northern Bangladesh has drawn criticism after a classroom was allegedly used to store paddy while a school peon regularly took lessons due to a shortage of teachers, exposing what locals say is a collapsing education system.
The incident came to light at Toiyob Khan Government Primary School in Bidyananda union under Kurigram’s Rajarhat upazila, where only one teacher was found present during a recent visit. School authorities acknowledged that the peon had occasionally conducted classes, while students claimed he did so regularly.
Residents said the school has been struggling for months with a lack of teachers, poor attendance and deteriorating infrastructure, leaving students increasingly dependent on irregular academic activities.
According to allegations, the school’s first-grade classroom was used to store paddy for four days by peon Santosh Roy. The sacks of paddy were removed on 13 May after the matter became publicly known.
The incident raised further questions after conflicting accounts emerged from teachers and students over who had stored the paddy inside the classroom.
Assistant teacher Monoranjan Roy claimed that the paddy belonged to a man named Binoy Krishna. But several students said Santosh Roy himself had placed the paddy there.
Later inquiries revealed that Binoy Krishna is the peon’s father, intensifying local concerns over the use of school property.
School sources said the institution has been operating without a head teacher for nearly a year.
The school has 83 students but only three teachers are currently assigned there — Shamim Mia, Mosammat Rowshanara Khatun and Monoranjan Roy — while three teaching positions remain vacant.
During a visit to the school, Monoranjan Roy was the only teacher present on the premises.
He said Rowshanara Khatun was on maternity leave and Shamim Mia was also absent on leave.
Monoranjan Roy said the severe shortage of teachers had forced both him and the school peon to engage in classroom teaching activities.
Santosh Roy also admitted that he sometimes teaches students.
Several pupils, including fifth-grade student Purnima and third-grade student Sohag, said the peon regularly conducted their classes.
Local shopkeeper Nazmul Islam said the situation had become common at the school because teachers often failed to attend regularly.
“The peon takes classes for the students. Teachers are seen very rarely. Sometimes they come, sometimes they do not,” he said.
Local union parishad member Monindra Ranjan Roy blamed poor communication infrastructure for the school’s declining condition.
He said the school lacked a proper access road and that the route became nearly unusable during the monsoon season, discouraging teachers from attending regularly.
According to him, the poor condition of the road has also contributed to a decline in student enrolment over time.
Attempts to obtain comments from Upazila Primary Education Officer MD Sharif Ahmed were unsuccessful as he was in Dhaka at the time.
However, he later said over the phone that he would return to his office on Sunday and comment on the issue afterward.
Locals said the school’s academic environment had effectively broken down and warned that students would continue to suffer without immediate intervention from the authorities.
