Over 20,000 teachers lack qualifications in subjects they teach

More than 20,000 teachers are currently instructing students in English and mathematics without formal qualifications in these subjects, according to officials overseeing Bangladesh's education system. The teachers hold degree certificates in other disciplines but have been assigned to teach core subjects due to institutional staffing shortages.

The practice reflects a wider challenge facing the nation's education sector, where demand for qualified instructors in key subjects outpaces the available supply of properly trained educators. Schools, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas, have struggled to fill vacant positions with suitably qualified personnel.

Education ministry officials acknowledge the situation presents challenges for curriculum delivery and student learning outcomes. While some teachers receive in-service training to enhance their subject knowledge, experts argue that short-term professional development cannot fully compensate for formal academic grounding in the discipline being taught.

The staffing crisis highlights the need for long-term solutions, including targeted teacher recruitment drives and incentive schemes to attract qualified educators to teaching positions. Educational administrators have indicated that addressing the shortage remains a priority for improving overall classroom instruction quality.