This was revealed in a survey conducted by Mass-Line Media Centre, a local NGO.

A poor state of primary education came to light during the survey, officials of the NGO told The Daily Star. The survey report was submitted to district education officer on February 8.

The frustrating standard of education at the grassroots level is mainly due to poor infrastructure, shortage of teachers, lack of proper monitoring by the authorities and lack of sincerity of teachers, the report said.

This correspondent, after getting the survey report, visited four primary schools in the area.

Chandkutti Primary School is hardly seven kilometers from Rangpur town but students there attending classes under open sky due to lack of classrooms. A new school building is yet to be constructed after the old one was declared abandoned and sold at Tk 25,000, its headmaster Muzaffar Ahmed told this correspondent.

There are only three classrooms for about 250 students of class one to five. Due to accommodation problem, students of class one and two attend classes under open sky on its compound. The problem has increased after more 75 students were enrolled this year, he said. We have introduced two shifts for students of classes three, four and five due to accommodation problem, he said.

On February 7, at about 11am, when this correspondent reached Bodhukomla Non-government Primary School, students were playing on the ground.

Asked, some of the students said their teachers were absent. They also said that some people 'hired' by the appointed teachers sometimes come to the school and take classes.

Firoz Kuttial, younger brother of headmaster Abdul Mobin Kuttila came to the school at 11:45 am. He said, "As all students are yet to get books, teachers are casual in taking classes."

"My elder brother and my niece are the other two teachers of this school. In fact, we established the school on our land."

Asked about the survey report, Upazila Education Officer Nazrul Islam said, "I got the report. I don't believe that the findings are correct". He however said he hopes the education department will take steps to solve the problems."