Ramban, Sep 23: National Conference (NC) leader and District President Ramban, Sajjad Shaheen has expressed serious concern over the shortage of teaching staff in government schools in district Ramban, particularly in Banihal assembly constituency.
He said the government schools in the entire Ramban district are grappling with a severe problem of shortage of teachers, with schools in rural areas bearing the maximum brunt of the staff crunch. There is a more than 30 per cent shortage of staff in government schools in rural areas of the district, as per the reports.
Shaheen accused the education department of a lackadaisical approach to filling the vacant posts. “The gravity of the situation can be understood from the fact that a government school HSS (Boys) Banihal has only 9 teachers out of 16 sanctioned posts as six lecturers have been recently transferred without providing any substitute,” he said.
Similarly, in HSS Tethar, HSS (Girls) Banihal, HSS Khari, HSS Mahoo, HSS Neel, and HSS Ukharhal most of the posts are lying vacant, he said, adding, “Even the Degree College Banihal is functioning without a permanent principal which is a matter of great concern.”
The NC leader added, “Similar reports have been received from Kawna, Trigam, Mahu, Mangit, Kumbla, Buzla, Ramsoo, Neel, Ukharhal, Senabati, Alinbas, Pogal-Maligam, Sarachi, Khari, Nachlana, Sumar, Nowgam, Bankoot, Chapnari, Chamalwas, Chaknarwa, Dooligam, Hinjhal, Kaskoot, Asshar, Lamber, Chanjlu, Dooligam, Shagan, Wagan, Rajgarh, Desa, Batote, Ramban, Gandhri, Assar, Dharamkund and other areas of the district.”
How would the government achieve ‘standards’ in education without providing necessary infrastructure facilities in schools and filling vacancies of teachers’ posts, he asked.
Shaheen alleged that some schools don’t have teachers even for important subjects like Mathematics and Science. “Even the headmasters’ posts are lying vacant for a long time,” he said, adding, “The students are forced to sit idle all through the day as most of the classes are not held due to a shortage of teachers. Left with no other option, they are forced to spend on tuition to learn the lessons. It affects their academic prospects because of the government’s apathy.”
Shaheen has urged the J&K administration, particularly the Director of School Education and CEO Ramban to fill up all the vacant posts in all the schools of the district to ensure quality education in the backward areas.
