Teacher crunch worsens in Sindhanur as 45 schools in taluk are staffless

Raichur: Even as the govt pushes to strengthen govt schools through infrastructure upgrades and enrolment drives, 45 Kannada-medium govt schools in Sindhanur taluk are functioning without a single teacher.

The shortage of teachers has emerged as a major challenge in govt primary schools in the taluk over the past four to five years. Delays in recruitment have affected enrolment, with education officials struggling to keep schools running with inadequate staff.

As schools reopened on June 1, the absence of teachers in 45 schools created an unusual situation, with no regular staff available even to open and manage institutions. Teachers from neighbouring schools have been given additional charge of these schools. However, the arrangement has not offered a lasting solution. Parents have questioned how admissions can be encouraged in schools that have no teachers.

Officials, meanwhile, face the challenge of running schools that exist in govt records and are expected to enrol students, but lack the teaching staff needed to function effectively.

The problem extends beyond these schools. Another 52 schools in the taluk have only one teacher each, who is expected to handle both academic and administrative responsibilities.

The situation has left many parents hesitant to enrol their children in govt schools. According to official data, Sindhanur taluk has 1,492 sanctioned teaching posts, including 154 head teachers, 827 primary school teachers, 443 graduate primary school teachers and 68 physical education teachers. However, 725 posts remain vacant. These include 47 head teachers, 428 primary school teachers, 192 graduate primary school teachers and 58 physical education teachers.

Somalingappa Gaddi, a parent from Javalagera village, said the govt approved appointment of 618 guest teachers, but the process had not yet begun. He urged the govt to expedite appointments.

BEO Basavalingappa said teachers from nearby govt schools were assigned to schools without teachers and would oversee all school-related responsibilities until regular arrangements were made. He added that the process of appointing guest teachers would begin soon.

Echoing parents’ concerns, BJP district vice-president Lingaraj Hugar said the govt must take immediate steps to save Kannada-medium schools. “If there are no teachers, what are children expected to do when they come to school? Teacher appointments should be prioritised,” he said.

With nearly half the sanctioned posts remaining vacant, concerns are mounting over the quality of education and the ability of schools to provide adequate teaching support.