After four guest teachers at Basantpur’s primary school retired in February, 75-year-old Dwijendra Nath Ghosh saw a challenge – and an opportunity
75-year-old retired high school teacher Dwijendra Nath Ghosh and his former students at Basantapur Junior High School in West Bengal’s Purba Bardhman district. (Express photo by Partha Paul)
Well into his 70s and a decade into retirement, Dwijendra Nath Ghosh refuses to withdraw from his duties as a teacher. Every day from 10 am to 4 pm, Ghosh sets out from his home to do a job that nobody pays him for – teach at Basantapur Junior High School in Basantpur village of West Bengal’s Purba Bardhman district.
Had it not been for Dwijendra’s tireless efforts, the school would have shut months ago when the last of the ‘guest teachers’ retired in February 2023. The 75-year-old retired high school teacher is assisted by a skeletal staff of five ‘voluntary teachers’ and one guest teacher. The voluntary teachers happen to be his former students and, like him, teach for free.
Located in Jamalpur block of the district, the upper primary school was established in 2014 after Dwijendra wrote to the state government for years requesting that a school be opened in Basantpur village. The school is managed by an ad hoc four-member committee, which Dwijendra is also a part of. If this school shuts down, students will have to travel several kilometres to attend a high school in another village.
Located in Jamalpur block of the district, the upper primary school was established in 2014 after Dwijendra wrote to the state government for years. (Express photo by Partha Paul)
“In 2014, the government had appointed four ‘guest teachers’ and all of them retired in February this year. Since then, the government has appointed only one guest teacher. If there are no teachers, the school will shut down,” says Dwijendra, who retired as a high school teacher in 2008.
Basantpur Junior High is housed in a single-storey building which has four classrooms, a kitchen, a library room that doubles up as the staff room for teachers, and toilets. The school has 140 students – 81 boys and 59 girls – who study in classes V to VIII.
Popularly referred to as ‘Mastermoshai’, Dwijendra says he started teaching for free at the school in the wake of the staff crunch and later even convinced five of his former students to join him. “They did not let me down,” he says.
“Apart from the annual grant that varies from Rs 15,000 to Rs 35,000, the state government provides mid-day meals and other resources needed to run the school. But if there’s a special programme like our annual sports day, sometimes I have to pitch in,” says Dwijendra.
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The school has 140 students – 81 boys and 59 girls – who study in classes V to VIII. (Express photo by Partha Paul)
For Dwijendra’s former students, unless they get regular jobs, the opportunity helps them practise their skills.
“Mastermoshai, convinced me to come and teach here. Despite being educated, I am unemployed, so I have time to spare. I started teaching in February,” says Swagata Ghosh, 24, who teaches history at the school. She has a master’s degree in Bengali language and a BEd degree.
Another teacher, Suman Majhi, had cleared the teachers’ recruitment examination conducted by West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016, but did not get a posting.
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Suman is among the thousands of youth whose chances of employment were hampered due to the ongoing WBSSC recruitment case where the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate are probing alleged irregularities in appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff (Group C and Group D postings) between 2014 and 2021.
Parents of those studying here feel that until the state government appoints permanent teachers, Dwijendra and his staff should be paid an allowance. (Express photo by Partha Paul)
“Someone has to teach these children. If the school shuts down, many will simply drop out of the education system,” says Suman.
Their colleague, Saheli Mondol (25), says she gets a lot of questions about why she is teaching for free. “Even after a masters degree in geography and a clearing B.Ed, I did not get a job. Here, I get respect from students. It feels good to teach them,” says Shilpa.
Parents of those studying here feel that until the state government appoints permanent teachers, Dwijendra and his staff should be paid an allowance.
Indranath Koley (40), whose 13-year-old daughter Sumana goes to Basantpur Junior High School, says, “These teachers are very particular about the students’ education. Perhaps even more sincere than regular teachers. We are more than satisfied with what our children are learning here.”
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For other parents like Suryakanta Ghosh (41), it’s time that the government thinks of adding more classes. “My 12-year-old son is in class VII right now. After next year, I will have to shift him to another school for further studies.”
Talking to The Indian Express, Jamalpur’s Block Development Officer Shuvankar Majumder said the committee’s hands are tied as the school recruitments come under the state education department’s ambit.
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“Only the education department recruits teachers. We have already intimated the problem to the district administration. We also think that an honorarium should be given to these teachers. We will discuss the issue in a meeting of the panchayat samiti,” Majumder said.
The chairman of the ad-hoc committee Shuvajit Jash and District Inspector of Schools Anindita Saha refused to comment on the issue.
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