In this silicon valley there is no dearth of computer experts. But there is severe shortage of teachers who can impart computer education to the younger brigade.

At least this is the situation in government colleges. There are about 127 government colleges in the State offering computer science and believe it or not, hardly there are around 12 computer science teachers in these colleges!

Last year, the Department of Collegiate Education had written to Karnataka Public Service Commission requesting it to fill around 37 vacant computer lecturer posts across the State. Only five applied and got selected. Of these, three have already left.

This year, the department has requested to fill around 67 vacant posts but only nine have applied. All of them have been selected. “The postings are yet to take place. We doubt whether all the nine selected candidates will report,” official sources said.

Why this pathetic situation? Because the government degree colleges are the latest losers in manpower to the rising IT and BPO companies.

Their computer science teachers are moving to IT sector, bidding goodbye to teaching. As a result, the colleges are equipping other subject teachers with computer education so that they can double up as computer science teachers.

The department gives one month training to the teachers in using internet, history of the computer, hardware and software components.

The same has to be taught to the students by the other subject teachers. Though the department maintains that training is given only to upgrade their computer skills, the sources said that the training is given so that they can teach the students.

A lecturer from Government First Grade College, currently attending the training said that he will teach the students whatever he has learnt in the training programme. “I can teach my subject (commerce) as well as computers,” he added.

College principals reasoned that mushrooming of IT and BPO companies has resulted in dearth of
teachers. “Majority of computer science students prefer to work in IT, call centre or BPO as it is not only glamourous but they can also get good money,” Bhagyalaksmi B L, principal of Maharani Science College said.

Poor pay
Main reason for the trend is poor pay. “A computer science lecturer gets a salary anywhere between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000, while companies pay Rs 20,000 for fresh computer graduates. The guest faculties are paid a meagre amount of Rs 5,000,” a government college principal added.

However, a department official said measures are taken to address the shortage of teachers by introducing EDUSAT programme in colleges and appointing guest lecturers. “The EDUSAT programme is already implemented in many colleges and a few more colleges will avail this facility sooner. The other subject teachers will only guide the students, if required,” the official added. "

Reality check
Bangalore boasts of having international schools and reputed professional colleges. Computer education has become part of primary school syllabus.

But what about government colleges in the State?

A reality check by Deccan Herald revealed that the government colleges are struggling to get teachers to teach computer education. Even language teachers have become computer teachers!  Under series - Teachers Fail to Boot - Deccan Herald is focussing on the constraints faced by the colleges as well as students.