Government schools across Koppal district have reopened for the new academic year amid a severe shortage of teachers, with parents urging authorities to appoint guest teachers immediately to prevent disruption of classroom teaching.
Teacher Vacancies Exceed 3,100
According to official figures, primary schools in the district are functioning with only 3,697 teachers against 6,243 sanctioned posts, leaving 2,546 vacancies. High schools are also facing a shortage of 646 teachers, with 1,090 teachers in service against 1,736 sanctioned posts. This brings the total number of vacant teaching positions to more than 3,100.
Parent Concerns Over Learning Quality
Parents have expressed concern that the shortage could affect teaching and learning at a crucial time when students have returned to classrooms after the summer vacation. Vijayakumar Hanagi, a parent, said that although the government permitted the appointment of guest teachers from June 1, the process has yet to be implemented.
Many parents fear that the lack of sufficient teachers will force schools to combine students from multiple grades into a single classroom, compromising the quality of education. This arrangement, they argue, has contributed to a steady decline in enrolment in government schools, as families opt for private schools despite financial difficulties.
Impact on Single-Teacher Schools
The shortage is expected to have a direct impact on single-teacher schools. The district had 102 such schools last year, and the number could rise this year. The exact figure will be known by the end of June, after completion of teacher transfers and student enrolment. Most of the single-teacher schools are lower primary institutions with four classes, where a lone teacher is required to handle students from multiple grades and often teaches them together in a single classroom.
Imbalances in Teacher Allocation
Teacher allocation is largely based on student strength, leading to significant imbalances in staffing. Schools with seven grades and around 150 students are often allotted only four or five teachers. As a result, some classes do not have a dedicated teacher, and students from different grades are grouped together for lessons. Parents said such arrangements affect the quality of learning and compel many families to opt for private schools despite financial constraints.
Authorities Respond
DDPI Somasekharagouda Patil said guest teachers would be appointed according to student strength and only trained candidates would be engaged for the purpose. He assured that the process would be expedited to ensure classroom teaching is not affected.
With more than 3,100 vacant teaching posts in primary and high schools, parents have called on the authorities to accelerate the appointment process to prevent further disruption to education.
