1 week ago
Himachal Pradesh Teacher Shortage Leaves 150 Schools Without Teachers
Some schools in Himachal Pradesh do not have enough teachers.
About 150 schools have no teacher at all.
Another 3,500 schools have only one teacher.
A lawmaker said 12 schools in her area have no teachers.
Some parents are collecting money to hire teachers themselves.
The education minister said the state has many teachers overall compared with its number of students.
The government says it has filled thousands of vacant jobs and plans to hire more.
Officials are also working on a policy for schools with only one teacher.
Himachal Pradesh has 150 schools without teachers and 3,500 with only one teacher.
BJP MLA Reena Kashyap said 12 schools in Pachhad lack teachers, including six in Narag and five in Sarahan.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur cited a state pupil-teacher ratio of 1:10.
The government says it has filled 9,000 teaching posts and plans to recruit 6,500 more.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said a policy is being prepared for single-teacher schools.
- Who
- Himachal Pradesh government officials, BJP MLA Reena Kashyap, and students and parents in affected schools.
- What
- The Legislative Assembly discussed a shortage leaving 150 schools without teachers and 3,500 with only one teacher.
- Where
- Himachal Pradesh, particularly Pachhad, Narag, and Sarahan.
- When
- The issue was raised during Zero Hour on Wednesday.
- Why
- Teacher vacancies and deployment difficulties persist in remote areas despite overall recruitment and a reported pupil-teacher ratio of 1:10.
Government Position
Critics' Concerns
Overall staffing
Government Position
Education Minister Rohit Thakur said Himachal Pradesh has the country's best pupil-teacher ratio, at 1:10, and that 9,000 posts have been filled.
Critics' Concerns
Reena Kashyap pointed to schools operating without any teachers or with vacant principal and lecturer positions, especially in her constituency.
Addressing remote schools
Government Position
The government says it is using rationalisation, plans to recruit 6,500 more teachers, and is formulating a policy for single-teacher schools.
Critics' Concerns
Kashyap said 12 schools in Pachhad have no teachers, some with more than 40 students, forcing parents to pool funds to hire teachers.
Key facts
- Schools without teachers
- 150 schools
- Single-teacher schools
- 3,500 schools
- Schools with fewer than 15 students
- 2,500 schools
- Reported pupil-teacher ratio
- 1:10
- Teaching posts filled
- 9,000
- Planned additional recruitment
- 6,500 teachers before the current government's term ends
- Pachhad schools without teachers
- 12 schools
Sources
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