3,192 vacancies raise concerns over classroom teaching in Koppal

KOPPAL: Govt 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.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. Parents have expressed concern that the shortage could affect the 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 govt permitted appointment of guest teachers from June 1, the process was yet to be implemented.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. In these schools, a lone teacher is required to handle students from multiple grades and often teaches them together in a single classroom.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 difficulties. They argued that the situation has contributed to a steady decline in enrolment in govt schools. DDPI Somasekharagouda Patil said guest teachers would be appointed according to student strength and only trained candidates would be engaged for the purpose.With more than 3,100 vacant teaching posts in primary and high schools, parents have called on the authorities to expedite the appointment process to ensure classroom teaching is not affected.