Bauphal Nursing Institute has only 2 teachers against 200 students, educational activities hampered
Md Delwar Hossain, Bauphal (Patuakhali)
The Bauphal Nursing Institute in Patuakhali is teaching about 200 students with only two teachers. Regular teaching and practical training are being disrupted due to the teacher shortage. Not only the teacher shortage, but also the lack of necessary staff including night watchmen, peons and cooks has led to various problems in the educational and residential activities of the institution. They are suffering due to student complaints, insecurity, infrastructural crisis and lack of necessary educational materials.
According to relevant sources, Bauphal Nursing Institute was established in 2021. The institution has been approved for admission of students since 2023. Currently, about 200 students are studying here. However, there are only two teachers to conduct teaching activities in 17 subjects. As a result, it has become difficult to properly conduct teaching and practical training for a large number of students.
The institution also faces various infrastructural crises. It needs a new academic building, auditorium, seven modern labs, increase in the number of classrooms, kitchen, adequate toilets, safe drinking water system, paved roads on the campus, renovation of the main gate and a Shaheed Minar. Besides, there is a shortage of necessary furniture and sports equipment for students.
In nursing education, along with theoretical knowledge, hands-on training is very important. To develop into skilled and quality-serving nurses in the future, students need regular teaching, modern labs, and adequate teacher supervision. However, the lack of necessary teachers and infrastructure has raised concerns about the educational activities of students.
The head of the institution, Maryam Begum, said that despite repeated contacts with the concerned departments to resolve the teacher crisis, no effective solution is being found. There is not even a night watchman. Due to the lack of necessary manpower, the institution is constantly facing various problems in its management. She further said that she has also spent money from her personal funds to keep the institution's development and activities running. Due to this, she is facing various problems in her family life as well. However, despite various limitations, 71 students participated in the examination this year and passed with 100 percent. Of them, 23 got GPA-5.
Third-year students Suraiya and Sonia Akhter said in emotional voices that they are unable to study properly due to the shortage of teachers. There is no night watchman or peon on the campus. They have to live in insecurity. Since there is no cook, they have to cook and eat themselves. Students even have to do the cleaning of the campus. There is a lack of necessary furniture. There is not even a carrom board for sports. They are finding it very difficult to continue their studies amidst so many problems. They seek the attention of the concerned authorities to solve these problems.
According to informed circles, to ensure the quality of nursing education, it is not enough to just admit students; the necessary teachers, modern labs, training materials, and supporting manpower must also be ensured. Otherwise, there may be major obstacles in producing skilled nurses in the future.
In this situation, students and local conscious circles have demanded effective steps from the relevant higher authorities to resolve the teacher crisis at Baufal Nursing Institute, hire necessary staff, establish modern labs, and quickly resolve infrastructural problems.
