Over 50% schools in 10 dists sans principal: DTF

According to a report released by the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) regarding the status of posts of principal in government schools in Punjab, the state body of government teachers has claimed that 856 (44 per cent) out of 1,927 government senior secondary schools have vacant posts of principal and more than 50 per cent schools in 10 districts and 77 education blocks do not have any principals. Questioning the AAP government’s claim of bringing an education revolution in the state, the DTF district president Ashwani Awasthi said filling of all the posts of principal in these schools must be done through direct recruitment and departmental promotions.

“According to information collected by DTF’s organizational structure, out of 119 government senior secondary schools in Amritsar district, 36 schools are running without a principal. The situation here is the worst in terms of the presence of principals. Out of the total 15 education blocks of Amritsar district, posts of principal are lying vacant in 13 education blocks, while on the other hand, senior lecturers are forced to retire without promotions,” said Awasthi.

Jarmanjit Singh and Harjap Singh Bal, who are both serving as lecturers in different government schools of Amritsar, said vacancies of all cadres in government schools have long been ignored and have hit quality education in government schools.”

Considering the amount of non-academic work being done by government school teachers and shortage of staff, the situation across all government schools in the state are almost same. The state must draft its own education policy according to the local situation of Punjab. We should move towards making fundamental reforms in the education sector,” said Jarmanjit.