Government schools across the Kalyana Karnataka region are facing a critical shortage of teachers, with 22,595 posts lying vacant in primary and high schools. This has sparked concerns over the quality of education in one of the state's most backward regions.
Vacancy Breakdown
Official data reveals 18,317 vacancies in primary schools and 4,278 in high schools, forcing many institutions to rely heavily on guest teachers. Raichur district is the worst affected, with 5,624 vacancies in government schools. Out of 8,460 sanctioned posts in primary schools, only 3,900 teachers are currently in service, leaving 4,560 posts vacant. In high schools, 1,175 teachers are working against 2,239 sanctioned positions, with 1,064 vacant.
Impact on Schools
The shortage has led to several single-teacher schools and even 'zero teacher' schools without a permanent government teacher. In Devdurg taluk alone, 105 schools are functioning without a regular teacher. Educationist DM Badiger from Koppal noted that primary schools with 60 students are required to have at least two teachers, but many are operating with minimal staff.
Other Districts
- Kalaburagi: 3,129 vacant primary teacher posts and 589 vacancies in high schools.
- Yadgir: 3,029 primary school vacancies and 724 in high schools.
- Koppal: 2,617 vacancies in primary schools and 646 in high schools.
- Ballari: 2,217 vacant primary teacher posts and 556 vacancies in high schools.
Apart from teacher shortages, many government schools suffer from poor infrastructure, including inadequate drinking water, toilet facilities, electricity, lack of classrooms, libraries, playgrounds, and compound walls. Officials noted that enrolment in government schools has also declined due to inadequate staff.
Official Response
Raichur DDPI Mallikarjun acknowledged that infrastructure in government schools has improved over the years but stressed the need for teacher recruitment intervention. He mentioned that the issue was discussed in a meeting chaired by the Deputy Commissioner and expressed hope that appointments would be made through the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB).
