Teacher crunch, infra gaps haunt border schools as reopening nears

Belagavi: Govt primary and secondary schools in the border district of Belagavi will reopen after the summer vacation at the end of May. However, they are set to face familiar challenges once again, owing to acute shortages of teachers and basic infrastructure. Officials said there is a shortfall of over 4,900 teachers across the district's two educational divisions, affecting both primary and high schools.Several schools have already been shut down in recent years due to inadequate facilities, staff shortages and a steady decline in educational quality. Parents have expressed concern that enrolment in government schools may continue to drop unless these long-pending issues are addressed urgently.According to officials of the school education and literacy department, Belagavi educational district has 1,358 primary schools that require 7,957 teachers. However, only 6,338 teachers are currently working, leaving 1,619 posts vacant. In Chikodi educational district, 1,682 primary schools require 9,211 teachers, but only 6,790 are in position, resulting in 2,421 vacancies.The shortage is equally severe at the high school level. The 138 high schools in the Belagavi division require 1,404 teachers, of whom only 1,090 are working, leaving 314 posts vacant. In the Chikodi division, 232 high schools need 1,906 teachers, while only 1,359 are deployed, resulting in 567 vacancies.In total, out of 17,168 sanctioned primary teacher posts in both divisions, only 13,128 are filled, leaving 4,040 vacancies. Of the 3,310 sanctioned high school posts, 831 remain vacant. Officials said transfers and retirements over the years, coupled with delays in recruitment, have worsened the situation.Every year, guest teachers are recruited in July and August, after the academic year begins, parents said, hampering learning. They have demanded that vacancies be filled or guest teachers appointed before schools reopen.Deputy director Leelavati Hiremath said the department has urged the govt to fill vacancies and will take steps to appoint guest teachers in time. Chikodi deputy director RS Seetaram said measures will be taken to ensure students' learning does not suffer.TEACHER SHORTAGE | BELAGAVI DISTRICTOverall shortfall: 4,871+ teachersPrimary schools: Vacant posts: 4,040Working: 13,128 | Sanctioned: 17,168High schools: Vacant posts: 831Working: 2,429 | Sanctioned: 3,310Division-wise vacanciesBelagavi division: Primary: 1,619 | High school: 314Chikodi division: Primary: 2,421 | High school: 567Issue: Vacancies due to retirements, transfersStopgap: Guest teachers hired months after the session begins