Classrooms Without Teachers: Staff Crisis Pushes J&K Schools to the Brink
Hundreds of schools struggle with acute faculty shortage as students juggle combined classes, abandoned subjects and uncertain futures
Srinagar: A deepening shortage of teachers across government schools in Jammu and Kashmir is severely affecting academic activity, forcing thousands of students to study in overcrowded classrooms while many schools continue to function with skeletal staff.
From remote mountainous villages to urban pockets, several schools are operating with just two or three teachers against sanctioned strength of ten or more, leaving students at the receiving end of what education experts describe as a “silent academic emergency.”
In many higher secondary schools, science and mathematics subjects are either being taught by non-specialist teachers or remain unattended for months due to vacant posts. Primary schools in far-flung areas are witnessing multi-grade teaching, where a single teacher handles students from several classes simultaneously.
“We have nearly 300 students but only four teachers. One teacher takes two or sometimes three classes together. How can quality education be ensured in such a situation?” said a teacher from a government middle school in north Kashmir.
Parents say the situation has pushed many families towards private schools despite financial constraints. “Government schools once had credibility, but now children spend half the day without proper teaching. Poor families are suffering the most,” said Abdul Rashid, a parent from Kupwara.
Students too expressed frustration over the worsening situation. “We want to compete with students outside J&K, but many subjects are not taught regularly. Sometimes there are no teachers for weeks,” said a Class 11 student from a government higher secondary school in south Kashmir.
Officials in the education department admitted that shortages exist in several districts, particularly in remote and hilly belts where teacher postings remain a challenge. They said retirements, transfers and uneven staff distribution have widened the gap in recent years.
Educational experts warned that prolonged shortages could lead to higher dropout rates and declining learning outcomes. “The crisis is not merely administrative; it directly impacts the future of an entire generation. Schools cannot function effectively without adequate teaching staff,” said an academician in Srinagar.
Teachers’ associations have also demanded immediate rationalisation of staff and fast-track recruitment to fill vacant posts. They urged the government to ensure subject-specific appointments, especially in higher secondary schools where board examination results are increasingly getting affected.
The issue assumes significance at a time when the government is focusing on improving literacy rates and strengthening public education infrastructure. However, on the ground, many classrooms continue to echo with absence rather than instruction.
With students already grappling with learning losses from previous disruptions, educationists believe the shortage of teachers could further widen the academic divide unless urgent corrective measures are taken.
