Education dept fails to improve on student pupil ration in govt schools
1733 primary schools run by single teachers in JK
Srinagar: Signifying the laxity of the education department over streamlining the pupil teacher ratio in schools, as many as 1733 government primary schools in J&K state are run by a single teacher each. The negligence has thrown up a major challenge for the department as it has been harping on improving the student pupil ration in government schools.
The disproportionate pupil teacher ratio at primary level has punctured the department’s claims of strengthening and improving the education system at the primary level.
The single teacher schools exist even after the department merged over 2400 schools mostly primary level under the process of rationalization three years ago.
As per the data reflected in Unified District Information of School Education (UDISE), there are13175 government primary schools functioning in the state.
“The single teacher primary schools form 13 percent of the total primary schools established by the state,” read the official document.
As per the document, the MHRD has questioned the state officials over the disproportionate ratio in schools at primary level.
“The department has been directed to take measures to rationalize the institutions properly in order to reduce the single teacher schools,” an official said.
He said the State will rationalize teacher deployment in primary and upper primary schools, so that there is no single teacher school and all schools have PTR as per norms under the RTE Act, 2009.
Besides single teachers schools, around 1100 primary schools and 900 upper primary schools have adverse teacher pupil ratio in the state.
“Also, around 2100 schools are without subject specific teachers,” the document reads.
An official said the State was directed by MHRD to focus on completing the redeployment and rationalization of teachers at elementary level.
“Around 20.45 percent posts of subject specific teachers and 17 percent post of headmasters are vacant in government secondary schools,” the document reads.
Notably, the MHRD has also instructed the state to undertake positive consolidation of schools, within the provisions of the RTE Act, with a view to strengthen primary education and for optimum utilization of resources.
Secretary school education department, Sarita Chauhan said the department is mulling to start fresh rationalization of schools and ensure that no school is left with single teacher.
KV Correspondent
