RANGAMATI, June 16: A head-teacher in Baghaichhari Upazila of Rangamati has had to risk his life to comply with the government's new directive requiring primary school teachers to mark online attendance.
Due to a lack of mobile network coverage, he climbed a hill several hundred feet high and eventually sat on a branch of a mango tree to send his attendance online.
The incident took place at Pakujjochhari Government Primary School in Rupkari Union of the upazila. A photograph of head teacher Mohammad Abu Taher climbing a mango tree in search of mobile network signal spread across social media, sparking widespread discussion.
According to sources, the government has recently introduced an online attendance system for teachers at government primary schools across the country. According to the directive, teachers must be present at school by 9 am each day, take a photo of the attendance register, and send it via WhatsApp to the Upazila Primary Education officer.
On the very first day of the directive, which came into effect on Monday (15 June), head-teacher Mohammad Abu Taher found himself in difficulty. He said that his school is located roughly 300 to 400 feet below, between two hills. Even after climbing onto the school roof, he could not get any mobile network. He then climbed to the top of the hill and tried various spots, but still found no signal. Finally, he climbed a mango tree and managed to get a connection.
He said: “With great difficulty, I climbed onto a tree branch, got network access, and was able to send the attendance register photo to the Upazila Education Officer via WhatsApp. However, because I was a bit late, I also had to face a reprimand.”
When asked about taking such risks with his life to mark attendance, he replied: “I work this job to feed my family. If I want to keep my job, I have to take risks. If I lose my job, how will I support my four family members?”
Sanchayan Chakma, Acting Upazila Primary Education Officer of Baghaichhari, said that out of 116 government primary schools in the upazila, online attendance was received from 88 schools on the first day. Attendance from the remaining 28 schools, comprising 83 teachers, was not received.
He said: “Wherever 4G network is available, we have received online attendance. Teachers from areas without network have informed us via mobile text messages. I expect that attendance numbers will increase further in the coming days.”
