Teacher shortage hits academics in schools; Government clueless

Srinagar, Mar 15: The new academic session this year again begun under the shadow of an old and persistent crisis—acute shortage of teaching staff in government schools, particularly in rural and far-flung areas.

Routine class work in secondary and higher secondary schools resumed in February last week after the winter break, while elementary-level classes started on March 9. However, instead of a smooth start to the academic year, several institutions are grappling with a severe deficiency of teachers, raising concerns about academic disruption.

Officials said most schools in rural areas continue to face a teacher shortage, while higher secondary schools—particularly in north Kashmir—are struggling with an acute dearth of lecturers and subject specific teachers. For the past few years, the department managed the situation by deputing subject-specific teachers from middle and primary schools to higher secondary schools as an academic arrangement. However, the arrangement was discontinued last year after the Joint Director of the School Education Department (SED) for north Kashmir ordered the repatriation of all such teachers to their original places of posting. The order, implemented only in north Kashmir districts, has aggravated the crisis in higher secondary schools since the resumption of classes after the winter vacation, this year. “The order issued by the Joint Director was initially resisted, but the principals of higher secondary schools were eventually forced to relieve these teachers to their original places of posting. Now the same institutions face a serious shortage of lecturers,” a senior official told Greater Kashmir. According to officials, the crisis is largely seen in higher secondary schools of north Kashmir districts while schools in other districts are witnessing a relatively smooth session. “The decision was implemented because several subject-specific teachers originally posted in nearby primary or middle schools had been deployed to higher secondary schools located far away. Many of them sought to return to their original postings,” the official said.

Despite the start of the new academic session, the School Education Department did not carry out any reshuffle of teaching staff. The exercise was usually done during the winter vacation to balance manpower across schools. Apart from higher secondary institutions, many rural schools also face a shortage of teachers, further straining the academic process. The issue was earlier raised in the Assembly by the MLA from Uri constituency who highlighted the acute staff shortage in schools across his constituency. He urged the department to ensure that teachers posted in the Uri area continue to serve there even after promotions. He argued that teachers from outside areas rarely opt for postings in remote regions like Uri. However, according to official data, more than 50 teachers originally from Uri are currently posted in Baramulla town and its adjoining areas. “We prepared a list of these teachers and submitted it to the MLA, which was later forwarded to the directorate as well. But nothing has been done so far,” an official said.

Earlier this year the issue of teacher deployment also triggered controversy in Bandipora district. The Chief Education Officer (CEO) Bandipora cancelled the deployment of teachers from Gurez who had been working in schools in Bandipora town and other areas. However, the CEO was suspended a day after he issued the order to cancel all deployments. Officials in school education department informally linked the suspension to the cancellation of the deployment orders. The government, however, remained tight-lipped over the reasons behind the action. As already reported, the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) earlier issued an academic planner and said that 2026 will year of academic excellence. But on the ground, the department has failed overcome the crisis owing to the teacher deficiency in schools.