Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 20: Schools in Dakshina Kannada district have now been functioning fully. However, many parents have expressed anger at the fact that academic activities are adversely affected due to shortage of teaching staff in these schools.

The schools have reopened after a gap of about 18 months. The entire year's syllabus has to be taught in six months’ time. At such a crucial time, any reduction in the number of teaching staff can adversely impact the future of the students, the parents say.

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Sources in the department of public instruction say that the lower and higher primary schools in the district require a total of 1,091 guest teachers. In high schools, services of 181 guest teachers are needed out of which 109 posts have been filled so far. Prakash Anchan, who is involved with the 'save and nurture government schools' campaign, points out that permanent teachers of schools are expected to attend other works like midday meals. The schools have only a handful of permanent teachers. In many cases, entire schools are managed by guest teachers. The teachers available are often being deployed for training. Under these circumstances, who takes up the responsibility of teaching the students?" he questions.

He noted that post the covid19 crisis, admission of children into the government schools has picked up. When pointing out that this is the ideal time to strengthen the government schools, he complains that the government has not been ably making use of this opportunity.

"Ten schools of the district have been identified as zero schools which means there are no permanent teachers. The government has to respond to our efforts to see that government schools impart good education. Towards this end, they should immediately appoint guest teachers," he has urged the government.

In the post covid19 scenario, 14 schools in the district including a government school have been closed down. These schools have written to the education department about their intention to stop functioning.

Only two students have got admission into the government lower primary school Kenjar within the limits of the city north block education office. Two aided and one unaided school under this office are also being closed down. Two unaided and one aided school within the city south block, one aided and another unaided school within Moodbidri, two unaided schools under Bantwal, two unaided schools in Puttur, and an unaided school in Sullia taluk too have decided to shut down their operations.