Why teachers abandon university housing for city life?

Although universities have residential buildings for their teachers, many teachers do not live in these accommodations, citing various inconveniences and needs, and instead live with their families in the city. While this offers some benefits for the teachers, it causes significant problems for the students. Many teachers also hold administrative responsibilities; however, due to living away from the campus, they are not always available. On the other hand, when the accommodations remain vacant, the university loses out on potential revenue. Similarly, university officials also live outside the campus instead of residing within it.

A report published on Tuesday (November 26) in the newspaper revealed that in six universities, residential accommodations are left vacant while teachers live in the city. After investigating six universities in the country, it was found that, on average, 29 per cent of the accommodations remain vacant. There are 7,050 teachers and officials at Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Islamic University, and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.

Among them, there are 4,311 teachers and 2,739 officials. In contrast, there are a total of 980 residential units across these six universities, of which 285 remain vacant. In this context, questions have arisen regarding the construction of a new residential building at Jahangirnagar University. Those involved cite several reasons for not residing in the university's own accommodation. First, if teachers live in university-provided accommodation, a portion of their salary, specifically for house rent, is deducted by the administration. Depending on the position, this deduction can range from 30 to 55 percent of their basic salary. It is often cheaper to live in the city than to pay this amount for university accommodation. Second, many universities are located far from the city center. Due to various reasons, including the education of their children, teachers prefer to stay in the city. Third, in some cases, the accommodations are old and lack necessary facilities.

While it is true that there are some inconveniences for teachers when living in the university's own accommodations, if a large number of teachers stop living in these accommodations, it will create an even bigger problem for the country and the nation. The first question is: why invest government funds to build residential accommodations within university areas if they remain vacant? Why continue to build more accommodations when the existing ones are unoccupied? There also seems to be a lack of planning by the government. The second question is: teachers cannot avoid responsibility for the administrative complications that arise in their absence.

Similar complaints are found with many doctors in Bangladesh. They do not stay in rural towns, and when needed, they are not available. If this happens with law enforcement agencies, what will happen then? Wouldn't it lead to a breakdown in law and order in the country? If teachers and doctors, for their own convenience, leave university residential areas and move to the city, similar problems could arise.

Just as teachers need to think about their responsibilities, the government must also provide them with some additional benefits. One possible benefit could be reducing rent in university residential areas. Creating some city amenities around the university could also help. Additionally, establishing good schools for the children of teachers is important. Many universities in our country are located far from the city, so it is true that teachers residing in these areas face difficulties in accessing urban amenities. Without practical planning, these mutual problems will only escalate.

We hope that teachers do not face inconveniences, and the residential accommodations meant for them will not remain vacant. By considering the overall situation and making realistic decisions, without blaming anyone personally, these difficulties can be avoided, and no one will have to face such predicaments.