The Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) has raised serious concerns over the acute shortage of principals in government senior secondary schools across Punjab. According to the union, Jalandhar district has a vacancy rate of over 67 percent, significantly higher than the state average of 57.75 percent.
Vacancy Statistics
Data compiled by the DTF reveals that out of 1,927 sanctioned principal posts in government senior secondary schools in Punjab, 1,113 are currently vacant. This shortage has forced many schools to operate without regular principals, relying instead on additional charge arrangements.
District-Wise Breakdown
- SBS Nagar: Only 7 principals against 52 sanctioned posts
- Mansa: 10 principals against 73 posts
- Tarn Taran: 16 principals against 77 posts
- Barnala: 10 principals against 47 positions
Digvijay Pal Sharma, DTF Punjab president, criticized the state government for failing to address the issue despite promises of educational transformation. He stated that the Aam Aadmi Party government, in power since 2022, has made tall claims regarding education but has not filled the vacant principal posts.
Sukhwinderpreet, a DTF representative in Jalandhar, highlighted that the Education Department has been assigning additional charge of multiple schools to available principals. In some cases, one principal is handling three to five schools. For instance, in two Shahkot blocks, only one principal is posted against eight to ten sanctioned positions. Similarly, Lohian Khas block, which has five government senior secondary schools, does not have a single regular principal.
DTF district secretary Avtar Lal noted that in the absence of regular principals, senior teachers are often asked to head schools while continuing their teaching responsibilities. In Nurmahal block, there is no regular principal in any government senior secondary school. Goraya Block-I has only seven principals against 14 sanctioned posts, while Goraya Block-II has just three principals against 14 posts. This situation creates administrative difficulties in managing school funds, approving bills, processing salaries and arrears, and affects academic supervision and overall school administration.
The DTF has demanded that the state government fill vacant principal posts at the earliest through recruitment and promotions to ensure effective academic and administrative functioning of government schools.
