1,034 teachers posts vacant in Bellary

Even as there is an acute shortage of 1,034 teachers in government primary and high schools, by the end of the current academic year there will be a few more hundred vacant posts caused by the retirement of teachers.

There are 1,362 government primary schools and 161 government high schools with a shortage of 809 and 225 teachers respectively. The vacant posts of primary school teachers in various educational zones are as follows: Siruguppa (197), Bellary East (114), Bellary West (108), Hospet (128), Kudligi (72), Hoovinahadagali (49), Hagaribommanahalli (35) and Sandur (55).

Of these vacant posts almost half the vacant posts, numbering 484, are of Kannada teachers. In the border taluks of Bellary and Siruguppa almost half of the vacant posts are that of Kannada teachers.

No recruitment for the vacant posts has taken place during the last three years.

The shortage of teachers in the educationally backward taluks of Bellary, Siruguppa and Sandur has affected the education of students. In some schools teachers are sent on deputation to other departments and even by the end of the year the syllabus remains incomplete, says Zilla Panchayat member Lakshman.

During every zilla panchayat meeting members have been complaining that there is a shortage of teachers and that the deputation of teachers to other department is irregular.

However, the department officials say the shortage of teachers is due to non-recruitment.