Promotions result in acute shortage of science teachers

Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 11

The recent promotions of lecturers as principals has affected the science studies at several government senior secondary schools in rural areas as most of the promoted lecturers are from the science stream, particularly physics.

At a time when the government is making efforts to inculcate scientific temper in students, the shortage of lecturers has left an adverse impact as students are sans science teachers when their Class XII exams are round the corner.

Students at the government senior secondary schools in Khilchian, Majitha, Vichhoa and other areas are among the sufferers. Even if a school has science lecturers, the latter are overburdened amid several teaching positions lying vacant.

Besides, there are a number of schools where the science stream is considered as ‘dead’ as there is not even a single student opting for science. Most of such schools are located in or near the border belt.

Ashwini, a teacher at Government Senior Secondary School, Khilchian, said, “Students of physics and chemistry are at the receiving end at our school. Even if a temporary arrangement is made by allowing a science teacher of junior classes to deliver lecturers for Class XII, students will suffer.”

Another teacher of a government school said that if the government was awarding promotions, it should keep in view the balance. This is the time when students need more attention, he added.

Aman Sharma, president of the Government School Lecturer Union, said, “There has always been a shortage of teachers, but it is the rural belt which suffers the most.”

When contacted, District Science Supervisor Sudeep Kaur said, “The department has initiated steps for recruitment as counseling is on for new lecturers. Soon the shortage of teachers will be done away with. We wish to give the best to our students.”

It is worth mentioning here that the Education Department organises regular trips to the Science City in order to generate interest in this subject, but the shortage of teachers rubbishes the tall claims of the government.