Mansa schools sans commerce, science faculty

Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Mansa, May 23

A double-storeyed building consisting of three classrooms and two laboratories stands out in a corner on the campus of Government Secondary School in Hodla village of the district. Constructed in 2008, it was meant to run medical, non-medical and commerce streams. But the classes were never conducted. Reason: Teachers were never appointed.

Hodla’s is not the only school that has met this fate. Several government schools located in most backward villages of the district have a similar story.

With the National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) providing Rs 50-lakh aid per school, courses of medical, non-medical and commerce streams were introduced in 10 schools of the district in 2007-08. But nine years down the line, most of these schools are still waiting for appointment of teachers for these streams.

For instance, against 10 sanctioned posts of lecturers for medical, non-medical, commerce and humanities group, the Hodla school has just four teachers on its rolls, including a lecturer in the science group. For years, posts of lecturers in the science group remained vacant. A mathematics lecturer was appointed last year. There is no lecturer of biology, physics and chemistry.

“In such a scenario, how can we persuade students to get themselves enrolled in medical or non-medical courses,” said a teacher.

The school has one commerce lecturer on its rolls. But since no student showed interest in the stream, the teacher takes classes in the junior wing (High School). Humanities is the only group that is functional, that too without regular teachers for Punjabi and history subjects.

At Government Secondary School, Biroke Kalan, classes of science and commerce groups never took off. Of the total eight posts of lecturers, the school has Punjabi, English and political science lecturers on its rolls. “Such groups were introduced in Government Secondary School in Boha, Datewas; Ubha Burj Dhilwan; Ahlupur; Kulria; Musa; Fatta Maloki and Nangal villages of the district. None of these schools has adequate strength of teachers. Some schools have no student in medical and non-medical streams,” said a teacher.

The Kulria school is somehow managing to keep non-medical group afloat even as it does not have any science lecturer. Here, social studies and science teachers, hired for students up to Class X, teach non-medical students.

The situation is no different in schools upgraded by the previous SAD-BJP government in 2015.

Heron Khurd resident Kala Singh was a member of enraged crowd that locked the recently upgraded Government Secondary School in the village. “Both my kids are enrolled in this school. But there is no point sending them there. With limited strength, teachers are unable to teach students. That’s why we locked it last month,” he said.

There is no lecturer for students of Classes XI and XII. The school has just six master-cadre (who teach up to Class X) teachers on its rolls. Besides, three private teachers have been hired to teach students of Classes VI, VII and VIII. School authorities generate salaries of these teachers by charging Rs 60 from each of around 300 students.

Mansa District Education Officer Shivraj Singh said, “Yes, there is shortage of staff in some schools. But in case of science and commerce groups, even students don’t show interest. The major reason is flawed Right to Education Act rules whereby a student cannot be failed till Class VIII. Students, who perform poorly in mathematics and science subjects, somehow manage to pass Class X. But they ultimately opt for humanities instead of science and commerce.”

Poor results: CM seeks report

Chandigarh: Expressing dismay over the poor results of the PSEB Class X exams, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has asked Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary to prepare a report within a week. "I am disturbed at the deteriorating standard of education in Punjab. Over 40 per cent of the students have failed in the Class X exams. Also, only 24 students from government schools have made it to the merit list," he said. "If our children don't get good marks, they won't be able to make it to good colleges. Further, if they don't get admission in good colleges then won't be able to get a job," he added. TNS