JHENIDAH, Dec 09: Academic activities in Agriculture Training Institute (ATI) in Jhenidah are being hampered due to manpower shortage.
A total of 28 posts, out of 47, are lying vacant here at Jhenidah ATI, compelling the authority to run two shifts of classes, much to the inconvenience of the students who come from distant places.
A total of seven posts of instructors against eight are lying vacant for long.
The administrative posts of the Principal and the Vice Principal are lying vacant as well.
Besides, a total of 19 posts of non-teaching staff out of 28 have fallen vacant here, hampering the smooth running of the institute.
The 19 vacant posts of non-teaching staff include those of personal assistant of principal, head assistant, accountant, librarian, office assistant-cum-computer operators, cooks and assistant cooks, tractor driver, driver for principal, pump/generator operator, plumber, MLSS, guard, library attendant and sweeper.
Some students including Md Rhiday Hossain, Abir Hossain and Eti Khatun said they are grouped in big numbers during practical work on fields to learn how to cultivate various types of crops.
If they could be grouped in smaller numbers, their practical education would prove much more fruitful.
Students Al Imran, Zahid Hossain and Zakir Hossain attend classes coming from Shailkupa said when their classes end around evening, they face problems going home.
The ATI has 520 students.
Shortage of instructors coupled with non-teaching staff has compelled the ATI authority to take classes in two shifts, unlike others ATIs. It is putting pressure on the teachers.
Md Nazim Uddin, sub-assistant instructor, said, "We have been forced to form larger groups of students who learn practically on the field.”
“The quality of practical knowledge would be better if students could be grouped into fewer numbers", he added.
Md Abdul Kader, Principal (in-charge) said that the classes of the second shift having a total of 171 learners continue until evening, making students' return home difficult.
"We cannot hold the Board examinations in shifts. The fact that the number of our invigilators is not enough lays extra pressure on those performing their duties, while examinations are being held," Principal added.
Besides, shortage of teaching staff is having much pressure on the instructors taking classes in two shifts from morning till evening and non-teaching manpower shortage makes it difficult for the ATI to function," Mr Kader also said.
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