ICT Compulsory, but Other Subject Teachers Take Classes

Photo: Collected

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been a compulsory subject at the secondary and higher secondary levels since 2013. However, the necessary teaching posts were not created when the subject was introduced, leaving many government colleges without dedicated ICT teachers and government secondary schools without a single separate ICT teaching post.

As a result, teachers of physics, zoology, mathematics, business studies and science often conduct ICT classes. Some colleges also depend on programmers, guest teachers and part-time instructors. Teachers and educationists say the shortage makes it difficult to hold regular practical classes, leaving students focused mainly on exams rather than developing essential digital skills.

According to the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), Bangladesh has 708 government colleges, many of which still lack ICT teaching posts. Although 255 cadre posts for ICT lecturers were created in 2016 and 145 lecturers joined government colleges through the 38th BCS in 2021, recruitment has not continued regularly. A further 103 ICT lecturers recommended through later BCS examinations have yet to join.

The situation is more serious in government secondary schools. The country has 702 government secondary schools, but none has a separate ICT teaching post. DSHE has proposed creating 872 ICT teacher posts, but the proposal is still awaiting approval.

The shortage is also evident at individual institutions. Dhaka College, with around 2,400 students in Classes XI and XII, has no BCS Education Cadre ICT teacher. ICT classes are conducted by teachers from other departments and two programmers. Similarly, Motijheel Government Boys' High School relies on trained teachers from other subjects to teach ICT.

Outside Dhaka, Netrokona Government Women's College and Netrokona Government College each have only one government-appointed ICT teacher despite having around 2,000 and 2,600 students respectively. The shortage has forced one institution to hire a guest teacher, while students report that ICT classes are not held regularly.

Government colleges also face a shortage of higher-level ICT posts, creating a promotion bottleneck for existing teachers. Education experts warn that without specialised ICT teachers, it will be difficult to effectively implement the updated ICT curriculum and equip students with the digital skills they need.