Faculties shortage affects students’ study

The shortage of guest faculties in the government run schools across the city is affecting the studies of about 1.72 lakhs students. The misperceptions surrounding the directives and stipulations in the Madhya Pradesh Government’s recruitment policy is said to be the main reason behind this sorry state of affairs.

The latest directive of the government stipulates that only those who have done the online registration before 2017 are eligible for appointment. Consequently the students who have completed Inter, B Ed, D Ed, graduation and post-graduation during the 2017-2018 academic session will not be eligible for selection.

Previously, the Headmaster or the Principal of the respective schools could appoint guest faculties according to the need, but now the government has made it clear that only those who have done the online registration before 2017 are eligible to be appointed as guest faculty. According to government sources this is to maintain transparency in the selection process.

In Padma Vidyalaya, one of the oldest and prestigious schools of Gwalior, various sections are merged together due to the shortage of teachers. Class 9 in this school has 130 students and two sections, but now the two sections have been merged together. It is said that students sitting in the back benches can’t even hear what the teacher is teaching. The same is the case in Model School and Utkrishta School. However these schools have been given permission to continue with the old guest teachers till new appointments are made.

More than 200 guest teachers have to be appointed this year to meet the requirements of the government high schools and higher secondary schools, but the portal says that there are vacancies only for 60 teachers. Likewise the primary and middle schools require more than 300 guest teachers. The whole selection process should have been completed by the 15th of June.

Speaking to the media persons, RN Nikhara, the District Education Officer of Gwalior said that the selection process for the guest faculties will be completed by July end. He added that the number of vacancies for the posts will be unloaded on the portal very soon.