20% govt schools in Himachal without teacher or have only one
Subhash Rajta
Shimla, July 11
Over 20 per cent government schools in the state are functioning with no teacher or just one teacher. Out of the total 15,156 government schools in the state, around 3,500 schools have either no teacher or just one.
There’s no way out other than the consolidation of resources to provide teachers and quality education in our schools. We have identified around 700 schools where the enrolment is extremely low. These schools will be merged with other schools in their vicinity to enhance the number of students. — Rohit Thakur, Education minister
“Around 400 schools are without a teacher while 3,100 to 3,200 schools have just one teacher. Of these schools, around 80 per cent are primary schools,” said Rohit Thakur, Education Minister. The government was trying to address the situation through new appointments, rationalisation of staff and merging schools having an extremely low enrolment of students, he added.
The minister said the batch wise recruitment of around 2,200 JBTs and TGTs was nearing completion and they would be appointed in schools facing a shortage of teachers. “While posting these teachers, priority will be given to schools without one teacher, schools having one teacher with reasonable enrolment and schools of excellence,” said Thakur.
Not having a teacher in primary schools is a big concern, but high schools or senior secondary schools functioning without teachers or inadequate staff is a much bigger problem for parents and students. While primary schools are available within a distance of 1.5 km to 2 km, students have to travel long distances to find another high or senior secondary schools. Government Senior Secondary School at Neri Nagar in Theog block of Shimla district doesn’t have even one teacher for Class XI and XII.
“There’s no teacher for senior classes. Most of the parents have withdrawn their children and have sent them to other schools, which are at least 10 km to 12 km away. Many have rented accommodation to stay with their children away from their homes,” said Balbir Chauhan, pradhan, Tikkar gram panchayat.
Apart from the shortage of teachers, the declining enrolment is another challenge the Education Department has to deal with. “There’ no way out other than the consolidation of resources to provide teachers and quality education in our schools. We have identified around 700 schools where the enrolment is extremely low. These schools will be merged with other schools in their vicinity to enhance the number of students,” said Thakur.
“It will be ensured that students do not have to travel more than 2 km to 2.5 km to a new school after merger. The staff required after the merger of schools will be appointed wherever required,” he added.