Sunamganj Govt Women’s College suffers for manifold problems

SYLHET, Sept16: Sunamganj Government Womens' College, only of its kind in the district, has been plagued with manifold problems.
Established in 1986, the private college was nationalised in 1998 and considering the plight of female students from the vast hoar (low-lying) region, it was upgraded into a degree college in 2011. The college has about 4,000 students.
Out of 14 subjects, there is no teacher for five subjects. Out of 739 examinees in HSC examination, 564 came out successful in the Arts while out of 89 in the Science, 58 failed with none got GPA-5.0.
But, only nine lecturers are serving at the institution although 15 were at work at the beginning. The teachers' crisis is there due to the transfer, promotion etc while most of the teachers are not interested to work at the remote district town for various reasons, sources informed. Due to absence of a computer operator, the authority has to manage things through a man on master role payment. Due to absence of teacher in the ICT, an outsider has to manage classes.
As per government rules, it needs 56 teachers. The college lacks vice-principal and there is no demonstrator for the science subjects.
Due to absence of teachers in the Physics and Chemistry, classes are hampered as some part timers are managing things. There had been no response although the college authority had informed the higher authority about the creation of new posts for the Degree College and filling the vacant posts alongside setting the required infrastructure as soon as possible.
College sources informed a proposal for 63 posts of teachers and employees had long been lying with the authorities.
Principal Porimal Kant Dey said no new post was created even in seven years after it was upgraded into a degree college. We had informed the higher authorities of the problems time and again but to no effect, he added shortage of class room and others are the main obstacles to run the institution.
Alongside the posts of different subject teachers, the positions of librarian, accountant and physical instructor and the MLSS had been lying vacant since the inception, sources alleged. Besides, the academic activities are being hampered greatly as the college rooms are used as examination centres for HSC, degree and honors examinations. Absence of an academic building and required bench, table and other furniture are also major problems, a number of students alleged.
Meanwhile, the Sylhet Institute of Health Technology has been suffering extremely due to a severe shortage of teaching staff for long. It was inaugurated on December 24, 2011. At that time, only 36 students were admitted in the lone faculty, Laboratory technology. The government-run institution is one of the eight such institutions in the country.
The institute now has five faculties - Laboratory technology, Radiology and Imaging, Physiotherapy, Dentistry and Pharmacy. Besides, introduction of specialised diploma on community health is on process, officials informed.
Only six teachers are working to manage the three-year courses of the faculties. On the other hand, only five employees work against the 120 posts of staff members.
The institute has 822 and another 250 are expected to be added next session.
Besides, the students have to suffer much due to absence of dormitory. The institution also doesn't have a boundary.
Principal Dr Nasir Uddin Bhuiyan said, "In addition to the teachers' crisis, we have been suffering much for staff shortage."
"We have only six teachers whereas at least 50 teachers are needed to manage the classes of different classes. We arrange some guest teachers to help managing the classes in local arrangement", he added.
Director (Health) of Sylhet division Dr Ismail Faruque said the authority concerned is aware of the situation. The process is on to fill up the vacant posts. "Hopefully we would be able to do that in a short period of time", he added.
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