1080 teacher posts lying vacant, hit school education

Hubballi: As many as 1,080 govt teacher posts are vacant in the district, leading to a shortage that affected smooth education. In primary schools, 939 posts are vacant, while 144 posts are vacant in high schools.

Teachers were burdened with multiple responsibilities and were also engaged in non-teaching work like coordinating and managing the mid-day meal, data entry for govt student tracking portals SATS and other administrative duties. As a result, students were lagging behind in education. The department attempted to bridge the gap through guest teachers, but permanent vacancies remained unfilled.

Schools in rural areas faced a shortage of teachers. In Navalgund, 191 posts are vacant, Dharwad rural 200, Dharwad city 59, Hubballi Rural 187, Hubballi city 134, Kundgol 141 and Kalghatagi 162. According to department sources, there are 580 primary teacher sanctioned posts and 112 posts in high schools. There is demand to fill around 376 posts in primary schools and 40 in high schools. However, the state department provided 554 guest teachers in district.

Ashok Sajjan, former teachers association president, told TOI that former education minister Madhu Bangarappa was informed about filling of 15,000 teachers posts in state and also approved by finance department. The shortage of teachers will hit students education, especially in rural schools. However, the department will provide guest teachers to fill the gap, but permanent posts should be filled, he demanded.

Fakkirayya Hiremath, Govt HPS Chalamatti, SDMC president, said that two teacher posts are vacant recently. If teachers are not provided, schools will be facing problems, and students will have to suffer. Teachers have to manage everything and also look after the non-teaching work. Teachers are already managing multiple classes. The govt should fill all vacant posts at the earliest, he urged.

Umesh Bommakkanavar, DDPI, Dharwad, said that we have given 554 guest teachers in schools, and 117 teachers were provided to Hubballi. A proposal has been sent to fill the vacant posts in district.