Senior students suffer in absence of teachers

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 3

It seems the entire Education Department has pulled up socks to show the “best” in the National Achievement Survey (NAS). May be this is the reason that the plight of students, in the middle of the session, is not being realised by the department.

There are many schools in the district in which till date subject teachers have not taken classes. This has compelled a few students in senior classes to change their stream as they are worried about their future.

In February this year, commerce and science streams were offered to students in a few government schools. Many schools are facing difficulties in absence of proper subject teachers for the students.

One Principal, on the condition of anonymity shared, “Either there are no teachers or there are no students in many schools. The department is going ahead with the rationalising policy, which is being done for last many years. Not providing teachers is a failure on part of the government.”

“Why should students suffer because of the lackadaisical approach of the department? In the middle of the session, they are changing their streams in panic,” the Principal added.

“We are putting in our entire energy on getting good results in the NAS. We don’t have to prove ourselves at the national level that we are the best. If we are the best, it will come out through students shining in all tests and assignments. How can we expect students to shine when we are not providing them ample teachers,” said another lecturer of a government senior secondary school.

Meanwhile, the department media in-charge, Dr Devinder Chinna, said many teachers had been promoted in the district recently. They would be able to take classes, he added. “The department is rationalising everything. Things will be better in the near future. Teachers will be available for students,” he said.