Teacher, classroom shortages disrupt academic activities
Academic activities of Habiganj Medical College are being disrupted due to a myriad of challenges, including insufficient faculty members, shortage of classrooms, and inadequate accommodation for students.
The institution, established in 2017-18 session with 51 students, began its academic activities using two rooms in the Habiganj 250-bed Modern Sadar Hospital. Over the past years since its inception, the institution still continues to function within a few rooms on the second and third floors of the only modern hospital building in the area, amid an absence of proper facilities necessary for providing medical education.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The hospital itself has been functioning amid overcrowding among other challenges. Accommodating the medical college further strains its resources.
Even after around seven years of operation, the medical college has yet to provide opportunities for intern doctors to practice, leading to a shortage of skilled physicians.
At present, the college's official work is carried out on the second floor of the hospital, where the principal and vice-principal have separate rooms, while all other teachers share a single room. Teaching is conducted in five classrooms with limited capacity, spread across approximately 3,000 square feet space on the third floor. However, at least eight dedicated classrooms are needed for conducting classes smoothly.
Despite an initial student intake of 51, the number of admitted students has now doubled to 100 per session, worsening the space constraint.
Lack of classrooms, overcrowding and insufficient hands-on training have been posing major challenges for the students to garner the required skills, said two newly graduated students wishing anonymity.
Moreover, 36 of the 83 sanctioned faculty positions remain vacant, while many teachers are not regularly available. Recent transfers among the teachers further worsened the crisis.
Students also complained of severe accommodation problems. Without hostel facilities, they are forced to live in rented homes, raising concerns about safety. The absence of a dedicated campus, and teachers' accommodation further exacerbates the situation.
"The crises we are facing know no bounds. We struggle daily due to lack of accommodation, insufficient classrooms and shortage of teachers. We have to wait for other classes to end before we can enter classrooms to attend ours," said Sanjida Akhter Tamanna, a student of the medical college.
Nusrat Binte Kabir, another student, said, "Every aspect of our college life has been affected. Sometimes, classes are conducted like meetings due to space constraint."
"The absence of a proper campus means we lack recreational facilities as well. It is frustrating not knowing when we will finally have our own campus," said Mihal Tahmeed, a final-year student.
"Due to teacher shortage, many classes often do not take place at all. It is frustrating," said Zibon Rabidas, also in his final year.
A teacher from pathology department of the medical college, wishing anonymity, said the academic programme is being continued amid numerous crises, but hardly anything much has been done to mitigate the problems.
Prof Dr Mohammad Zabed Zillul Bari, principal of the college, said improvements are gradually being made, but a medical college cannot function effectively without a permanent campus.
"A location for the college's permanent campus has been selected. Construction will begin upon approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council," he informed.
Tofazzal Sohel, coordinator of Habiganj Sankhubdo Nagorik Andolon, called for urgent government intervention to establish a permanent campus for the medical college, recruit teachers, and ensure accommodation for students to resolve the ongoing crises.
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