Over 1750 Govt Schools Still Have A Single Teacher; Clubbing Of Schools Goes In Vain

(FILE PIC)

Jammu: Clubbing of government schools has no effect on rationalization of teachers as over 1750 government schools in state are still functioning with single teacher.

Sources in School education department told Et that in 2015 state government had clubbed more than three thousand primary, upper primary schools and brought them under rationalization. At that time, the then education minister’s had claimed that the surplus teachers have been deployed to other school with higher enrollment.

Sources further said that as per government data revels that around 1735 government run primary and 25 upper primary schools still running with single teacher. “These teachers, moreover, are often not specialized in a subject and end up teaching all the subjects to students, thus decreasing the quality of education of state”, sources said, adding that the ground reality at many rural schools is far from ideal.

Wishing anonymity, a retired Chief Education Officer said that every year the school education department, as per direction of government submitted details of schools having one teacher but not taken any step for appointment of another teacher to these schools.

“These teachers do not necessarily specialize in any particular subject but are forced to teach every subject because of several reasons. I feel the state government must study all these factors before they finalise of proposal to streamline basic education system of Jammu and Kashmir”, said retired officer.

If one teacher goes on leave or stays absent for any reason, the school remains closed on a working day. At least thousands schools functioning with a single teacher. While successive central governments have stressed the right to education, the ground reality is far from the specified objectives, with states flouting norms of the RTE Act. (ET)