Staff crunch hits govt schools

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 14

A majority of the government schools in Ludhiana district are suffering due to the crunch of teaching staff.

Schools are operating without lecturers of art and craft, political science, mathematics, social studies and vocational training teachers at large.

There are no directors of physical education (DPE) and PTI in the GSSS Haibowal Khurd, the GSSS Barundi, the GSSS Bassian and the GSSS Galib Kalan.

Sanjay Gupta, teacher at the GSSS Multipurpose, said: “One of our school students played at the state level, but couldn’t go beyond for the nationals. Certainly, the case would have been different if we have had a DPE in the school. Our ex-students are helping school players and providing them with training in the absence of a DPE.”

Meanwhile, some schools do not even have teachers for basic subjects such as mathematics, science and political science. The posts for all three subject teachers are vacant at the GSSS Behlolpur. Principal S Harinder Singh said, “We have hired a private teacher for mathematics. We are managing without these subject teachers at our own level. I myself take an additional period of science.”

Government Senior Senior Secondary schools in Alamgir, Behlolpur, Galib Kalan, Ajitsar Raikot have no teacher for arts and craft. Prem Kumar, officiating principal of the GSSS Ajitsar Raikot, said: “We need a regular head for the school. I am a lecturer who has been given the additional charge of the principal. In addition to this, we have no art and craft teacher. Our students are very creative and need a teacher to help them hone their talents.”

Dearth of teachers for vocational courses

The vocational training courses in most of the government schools are lying redundant. Due to the vacant post of vocational teachers, several courses have been shut down by schools.

Shaheed Kartar Singh GSSS Sarabha has posts vacant for five vocational training courses — sewing, agro services, horticulture, auto engineering technology, maintenance and repair of electrical domestic appliances. Baldev Singh, Principal of the school, said: “Once a teacher retires, the post remains vacant. This is the only reason why we have closed down the courses. Vocational training is important for students who want to pursue engineering. The practical aspects taught in the training are crucial for one’s career.”

Vocational training courses have been closed down for auto engineering and co-operation in the GSSS Behlolpur as well. Similarly, vocational teacher posts for sewing machine, motor mechanic and carpentry are lying vacant in the GSSS Barundi.