Survey: Teacher shortage in 50% schools near slums

Bhubaneswar: Nearly 50% elementary schools located near slums in the city do not have adequate number of teachers. Also, many lack drinking water, toilet and other basic facilities, according to a survey conducted by two voluntary organisations, Bhubaneswar Bikash Sangathan and Atmashakti Trust.
The survey that covered 135 schools in slum areas found that 66 of them have shortage of teachers. The survey found that about 26 schools have two vacant teacher posts while 16 of them have three vacant posts, four of them have four vacant posts and another eight are running short of five teachers each while the rest have one teacher vacancy each against their sanctioned strength.
Also, many schools lack proper classrooms. About 30 of them are functioning with the shortage of one classroom, 29 of them have shortage of two classrooms, 13 of them are short of three classrooms, three schools require four classrooms more and four schools require five classrooms each.
According to norms, every school must have at least the same number of classrooms as the number of classes. The report also found that two schools do not have any toilet facility, while another seven lack separate toilet facilities for boys and girls. Around 15 schools do not have any playground in their compound, 12 schools do not have boundary walls. Around 80 schools surveyed need partial infrastructure repair work, the report suggests.
Teacher posts fall vacant due to superannuation of teachers, transfers and other reasons.
The posts are being filled up regularly. Infrastructure upgradation is being done as part of the 5T initiative and it will surely be ensured in all schools, said director (elementary education) Brundaban Satapathy.