Half of govt schools in Moga without principals

MOGA: Moga Even as half of Class-10 students failed the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) exam this year with a 49% pass percentage at the exam, over 50% of upper-primary schools in the district continue to be without principals.

Against 83 sanctioned posts, only 40 are posted. Upper primary schools comprise the middle, the high and the senior secondary schools.

In the headmasters category, the shortage is even worse at63% with only 29 posted against a total of 77 posts.

There are 239 upper-primary schools in the district that includes 73 middle, 84 high and remaining 82 as senior secondary.

Of 605 sanctioned posts in lecturer cadre for all subjects there are only 400 teachers are working in the district. In the master cadre, only 1,640 teachers are deputed against 1,951 posts.

Lecturer cadre teachers, whose minimum qualification is post-graduation, teach students of Classes 11-12. The master cad re teachers, whose minimum qualification is graduation, teach Classes 6-10.

Sources said there are at least 10 schools that are functioning with just a single teacher. This teacher, single-handedly, is teaching 6-8 subjects to over 60 students alone.

79 POSTS OF COMPUTER TEACHERS VACANT

The district is also facing a huge shortage of computer teachers as there are at least 79 posts lying vacant in over 50 schools. Some schools do not even have a single computer teacher. In appointing vocational teachers, the district has failed miserably with only 18 working against sanctioned 124.

EVEN DEO OFFICE FACING STAFF CRUNCH

Even the district education office is a victim of the same problemas the office is without deputy DEOs, an administrative officer, a sectional officer and a steno. There is only one superintendent against the requirement of at least three. Even in clerks, only four clerks are posted against the requirement of seven.

Mahavir Uppal, superintend- ent DEO secondary-cum-senior-vice president, Punjab Sikhiya Vibhag Ministerial Staff Association, said, “The government must pay attention to the education department and fill vacant posts in the district.”

District education officer, secondary, G ur dar shan Singh Brar, said, “Authorities should fill vacancies as per demand in schools.”

THERE ARE 239 UPPER-PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES 73 MIDDLE, 84 HIGH AND REMAINING 82 AS SENIOR SECONDARY

SUBJECTS MOST HIT

English, computer, science, mathematics, social science, political science, history, economics, vocational, music

SCHOOLS WITH MOST SHORTAGE

Government Middle Schools of villages including Boghewala, Dayian Kalan, Daburji, Karahewala and Sirsari have been managing a single teacher for all subjects for at least 60 students.