Pupil teacher ratio still a concern in govt schools
Srinagar: Bellying the tall claims of the school education department to streamline the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) in government schools, the educational institutions in Kashmir are overstaffed in most of the district while the student enrollment is going down drastically.
In Srinagar district the enrollment in government schools has decreased this year by 35 percent as compared to last year speaking volumes about the failure of polices in the department. However, the number of teachers is same as it was in the previous years.
Also, in other districts the schools have meager enrollment and surplus staff deflating the much hyped process of rationalization of government schools.
For example, government high school Sangrama in Baramulla district has less than 30 students from class 6th to 10th and staff strength in the school is over 20. The school has failed to attract the students despite being located at the Srinagar-Baramulla highway. The school is spread over more than 4 kanals of land but has failed to increase the student enrollment over the years.
Government primary school in Tappar Payeen area of Baramulla is another such school which is at the verge of closure given the meager enrollment of the students. The school is also located on the highway and is spread over 10 kanals of land. But the institution has failed to attract students for their admission. The enrollment of school is 15 and the department has posted two teachers there.
“The basic reason for meager enrollment is laxity of department to involve civil society and make these schools more attractive in terms of infrastructure and other facilities for the students,” an official said.
Over the years, the department has been claiming to increase the enrolment in the government schools but on ground the claims have fallen flat.
“The department has not given serious efforts to improve the enrollment which is the basic reason for decreasing trend of student population in the schools,” the official said.
Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Muhammad Younis Malik admitted the decreasing enrollment in schools and said the department is chalking out plans to motivate parents to enroll kids in government schools.
“We are hopeful to have increased enrollment in government schools,” he said.