Sayeed Muhammad of DOT
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood has expressed his resentment after finding a majority of teachers missing during surprise inspections at several Chattogram schools yesterday.
The ACC chief went to three educational institutions in the port city upon receiving reports that teachers were absent, according to ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya.
Iqbal Mahmood conducted the inspections based on reports from ‘special sources’, the ACC official furthered, reports BDnews.
“The chairman went to the city’s Kattali Nurul Hoque Chowdhury Primary School at 9:15 am. He was astonished to see students and guardians outside the school during school hours.
“He entered the school. He saw that of the eight teachers on duty, only the acting chief teacher was present, the other seven were absent,” Bhattacharya aded.
The anti-graft watchdog saw students wasting time eating roadside snacks, while guardians approached him to express their frustrations regarding their children’s education.
“No one will be allowed to trifle with our children’s education,” Iqbal Mahmood told the guardians. “Education must be ensured at every classroom. If necessary, the ACC will invoke section 166 of the Penal Code. No-one who harms or attempts to harm future generations will be spared.”
Afterwards, he went to the Bhatiary Government Primary School.
He found that only two among the 11 teachers as present, Bhattacharya said.
“The school authority was unable to tell the ACC chairman why they were absent. The ACC chairman inspected the attendance register and saw that many of the children who were absent had been marked present. Roll calls were not conducted as of 10 am today, either.”
The ACC chairman then went to Shitalpur High School. He was satisfied to learn that none of the students who had failed in their regular tests were allowed to take the SSC examinations at the school.