Staff shortage hits Comilla Edn Board

COMILLA, Aug 3 (UNB): An acute shortage of officials and employees is now prevailing in the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, Comilla, hampering its normal activities. Official sources said, as per the organogram, there should be 210 officials and employees from class I to class IV in the organisation, but the number of staff working here at present is 106. The rest 104 posts are lying vacant. According to the sources, Comilla Education Board was established in 1962 to cover 15 districts of Chittagong division. At the beginning, it had 600 officials and 110 employees. The numbers of schools and colleges under the board during its inception were 532 and 27 respectively. In 1988, the number of schools increased to 1050 and college to 211. In 1996, Chittagong Education Board was established with three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Chittagong and Cox's Bazar under its coverage. In 2001, Sylhet Education Board was established keeping Sylhet, Habiganj, Sunamganj and Moulvibazar under its jurisdiction. At present, Comilla Education Board is conducting its activities incorporating six districts-Comilla, Chandpur, Brahmanbaria of greater Comilla and Noakhali, Laxmipur and Feni of greater Noakhali. Under this board, there are now 1900 schools and 313 colleges. The board conducts Junior School Certificate, Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary Certificate examinations. But since long manpower has not been increased in accordance with the volume of works it has to do. At present, 16 class-I officers are working out of 24 sanctioned posts while one class-II officer is working out of 19 posts. Of the 108 sanctioned posts of class-III employees, 44 are working while 64 posts remain vacant. Of the 61 posts of class IV employees, 47 are now filled. Comilla Eucation Board secretary Professor Oliur Rahman said there is a sharp crisis of manpower in the board but activities run as usual. With such insufficient manpower, officials and employees are compelled to do all necessary works. He added decision has been taken to recruit new manpower soon.