40% schools in Palwal face staff shortage; relief expected in April

With nearly 40% of government schools in Palwal district facing a shortage of teaching staff, the annual transfer drive expected in early April is anticipated to bring much-needed relief, officials claim.

The Education Department is currently preparing a detailed report on the filled and vacant posts in various schools, which will be uploaded on the department’s Management Information System (MIS) portal by the end of this month. This data aims to facilitate the posting of teachers against vacant positions and allow teachers to transfer to their home districts.

“The district received only 200 teachers during last year’s transfer drive, while 450 were posted out, leaving a deficit of around 250 teachers,” an official said. Palwal district has over 600 government schools, including 359 primary, 132 middle, 27 high and 81 senior secondary schools, catering to approximately 1.60 lakh students.

The shortage is particularly severe in rural areas and newly upgraded high and senior secondary schools. “Science and commerce faculties in many schools remain vacant, forcing students to rely on private tuition and online studies at their own cost,” a teacher said anonymously. Schools in villages such as Hudithal, Hunchpuri, Hathin Kondal, Dhakalpur, Ladmaki, Paharpur, Mirpur and Babupur are among the worst affected, with teaching staff levels below 70% of the sanctioned posts.

Sources indicate that 30-35% of Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) and Postgraduate Teacher (PGT) posts remain vacant across the district. The reluctance of teachers to serve in rural schools far from district or sub-divisional headquarters exacerbates the issue.

District Education Officer Ashok Kumar expressed optimism that the upcoming transfer drive and ongoing recruitment of TGT and PGT teachers would help address the problem. “The issue is likely to be resolved after the posting of more teachers in the ensuing transfer drive,” he said.

The transfer drive is expected to take place before the start of the new academic session, bringing some hope to schools struggling to manage classes with inadequate staff.