Staff shortage continue to plague schools in hilly areas

The performance of government and tribal schools located in hilly areas of Bargur and Talavadi continue to be low as tribal associations call for filling teachers’ vacancies so that performance would improve in the coming academic year.

Of the seven higher secondary schools in hilly areas, Government Tribal Residential Higher Secondary School at Bargur produced very low pass percentage of 55. Of the total 80 students appeared for the Plus Two examination, including 34 boys and 46 girls, only 44 students, 18 boys and 26 girls cleared the examination as their average pass percentage stood at 52.94 % and 56.5 2% respectively. Most of the students are from remote villages or habitations in Bargur hills and only 50 students are provided accommodation in the hostel. Since vacancies for the teachers’ post exists for many years, performance of the students in the board examinations continues to be low. This led to protest by parents, teachers and tribal associations in 2017 and temporary staff were appointed to handle the classes.

V.P. Gunasekaran, president of Tamil Nadu Tribal People Association, said that teachers’ vacancies exist for many years in these schools and it need to be filled with permanent staff and schools under the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department should be inspected by officials regularly. He also wanted accommodation for all the students to be provided in the hostel so that enrolment increases.

Two other schools, Government HSS, Kalkadambur (70.41%) and Government HSS, Pasuvanapuram (62.22%) also produced poor results. Pass percentage of other schools include Government HSS, Talavadi (89.39%), Government Model HSS in Talavadi (92.31%) and Government HSS, Panakahalli (96.27%) while the Government Tribal Residential HSS, Hassanur produced centum results. All the 33 students, including 16 boys and 17 girls cleared their examinations.

Chief Educational Officer R. Balamurali told The Hindu that existing teachers’ vacancies in these schools will be filled up during the general counselling and added that all steps will be taken to improve the pass percentage in these schools.