Students protest shortage of teachers in Sopore women’s college

Baramulla, March 13: Scores of students at Government Degree College for Women in Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district protested on Monday against the shortage of teachers, saying this has been affecting their studies.
The students said that it has been almost a month since colleges reopened after winter break, but the shortage of teachers persists.
“We have not attended any class yet as there is no teacher available,” one of the students told Rising Kashmir. “This speaks volumes about the standard of education in the college,” she added.
Another student complained that teachers for the main subjects are not available. She also said that only a few teachers are permanent while the rest are contractual and have not been appointed for the current session.
“I am coming from a faraway place, and have to pay Rs 100 travel fare on a daily basis. And here we are wasting time as there are no classes to attend,” she said, adding that she spends time with her classmates in the college park.
The protesting students alleged they have been approaching the college administration for a long time, but nothing has been done to address their concerns. “Most of the posts of teachers at the college are vacant, which has only added to the misery of students who can attend only one or two classes a day,” they said.
They also alleged that school buses are lying defunct as no drivers are available.
The principal of the college, Prof Bashir, admitted the shortage of teaching staff and said they have already forwarded the issue to the higher-ups but to no avail.
However, the Director of Colleges for the Higher Education Department, Dr Yasmeen Ashai assured the students that she would investigate the matter. Dr Ashai said she would “promptly” address the issue to prevent any unnecessary waste of the students’ time.
The shortage of teachers and staff in educational institutions has been a recurring issue in the region, and the student protests highlight the need for immediate action to address the issue.
Earlier, in a bizarre incident, the Government Women’s College in north Kashmir’s Baramulla assigned non-subject-specific faculty to teach classes in departments without staff. The order was issued owing to the lack of permanent faculty for these subjects.