Crisis in the classroom: Chattogram colleges struggle amid teacher shortage

Highlights:

• One teacher for every 152 students on average across colleges
• No permanent faculty in several departments of some major colleges
• Outdated recruitment policy stalls appointment of new teachers
• Academic progress hampered by incomplete syllabus coverage
• Experts demand permanent Education Commission for systemic reform

A deepening teacher shortage is crippling Chattogram's public colleges, threatening the quality of undergraduate and postgraduate education. Despite rising enrolment, these institutions operate under outdated staffing policies and ineffective recruitment systems, reflecting a serious policy failure.

These colleges fall far below international standards that recommend one teacher for every 20 students. In some institutions, a single teacher is responsible for more than 300 students, making effective instruction nearly impossible and placing unsustainable pressure on faculty.

With no strategic planning or long-term reform, the crisis has escalated unchecked. Without urgent policy intervention, the fragile integrity of higher education in these colleges risks irreversible decline.

Overcrowded classrooms, underserved students

Many public colleges in Chattogram serve student populations in the tens of thousands, but faculty numbers remain critically low.

At Chattogram Government College, around 18,000 students are taught by only 156 teachers, meaning there is just one teacher for every 115 students. 

In the Islamic History and Culture department, seven teachers are responsible for 2,771 students, or roughly one teacher for every 395 students. 

The Philosophy department has six teachers for 1,800 students, and Sociology has four teachers for 1,100 students.

The situation is similar at Government Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College, which has 76 teachers for nearly 16,000 students, about one teacher for every 210 students. 

In the Political Science department, three teachers handle 2,000 students, while in Islamic Studies, a single teacher manages 1,500 students.

Several departments in these colleges, with only a few permanent teachers, rely on faculty borrowed from other subjects, leaving core areas without dedicated teachers.

At Chattogram Government Women's College, 88 teachers, including part-timers, serve 10,000 students, or one teacher for every 113 students. The newly opened Finance and Banking department has no permanent faculty and runs entirely on guest lecturers.

Chattogram Government Commerce College fares no better. Its Finance and Marketing departments, launched in 2018, still have no full-time teachers. 

Teaching is conducted by faculty borrowed from other departments. The college has 25 teachers for 8,500 students, around one teacher for every 340 students.

Impact on academic quality

Due to the shortage, most colleges cannot maintain regular classroom schedules. Undergraduate classes are typically held only three days a week, unlike Chattogram University, which runs classes five days a week. 

Departments in these colleges manage only two to three classes per day, making it nearly impossible to complete the full syllabus before the exam schedule.

Professor Md Mojahidul Islam, Principal of Chattogram Government College, described the situation as "a farce rather than education," adding, "Without adequate teachers, proper instruction and quality assurance inside classrooms is simply not possible."

Professor Dr. A.K.M. Shamsuddin Azad, Secretary of the Chattogram Education Board, acknowledged that the shortage is a known issue hampering quality. 

However, noting the issue lies beyond the board's jurisdiction, he told The Business Standard, "Our responsibility is limited to exam control. Recruitment is handled by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education or the Ministry of Education."

Educationists advocating for independent recruitment commission

A key obstacle to resolving the crisis is the bureaucratic complexity surrounding teacher recruitment in public and private colleges. College authorities and education experts are urging the government to establish an independent Teacher Recruitment Commission to streamline the hiring process and ensure timely appointments.

Some institutions, such as Mohsin College, have submitted proposals to the Ministry of Public Administration for new teaching positions — in this case, 135. But without a structured recruitment mechanism, such requests remain stalled.

"There is immense pressure on faculty due to the mismatch between student numbers and teacher availability," said Professor Mohammad Kamrul Islam of Mohsin College. "If new posts are approved and filled quickly, the crisis can be addressed."

Citing bureaucratic complications, Professor Dr Md Azad Khan, Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, said, "Posts must be created based on student numbers and then approved by the Ministry of Public Administration. Only then can the Ministry of Education act."

Education Adviser Prof Chowdhury Rafiqul Abarar didn't respond when contacted for comments regarding the issue.

A broader policy imperative

Education leaders are calling for a permanent Education Commission to handle broader systemic issues in the sector. This body would oversee recruitment and transfers and draft long-term policies tailored to national needs.

Professor Md Abu Taher Chowdhury, Vice-President of the Bangladesh College Teachers' Association, said, "There are multifaceted crises in the education sector. A permanent commission with policy-making authority is essential to overcome them."

The current teacher shortage in Chattogram reflects a broader policy failure. Without swift and structured reforms, the future of higher education and thousands of students remains at risk.