Umaisar Gul Ganaie
Srinagar, Nov 17: Hundreds of teaching and non-teaching posts continue to lie vacant in government schools across Jammu and Kashmir, crippling the education system and leaving students to bear the consequences of official apathy.
The situation in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district paints a grim picture.
Scores of primary, middle, high and higher secondary schools are functioning without adequate staff, depriving students of the attention and guidance that parents expect when they send their children to school.
Official data reveals that Kulgam has 540 educational institutions, including 26 higher secondary schools, 56 high schools, 308 middle schools and 150 primary schools.
Although these institutions are shown as “fully functional” on paper, the reality on the ground tells a different story. At least 360 teaching posts remain vacant across these schools, severely affecting classroom learning and overall school functioning.
Kulgam district is divided into six education zones, but half of them have been functioning without Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) for an extended period. The absence of administrative heads has weakened school supervision, planning, and day-to-day management, directly affecting teaching quality and student performance.
At the higher secondary level, the crisis runs deeper. Out of 26 higher secondary schools, four continue to operate without permanent principals. Institutions like Government Higher Secondary School D.H. Pora and others remain headless, making it difficult to maintain discipline or ensure smooth academic functioning.
The situation is no better in the high schools, many of which have been without headmasters for years. The absence of headmasters has hit both academic and administrative aspects of these schools, lowering teaching standards and hampering student progress.
Adding to the crisis, over 313 non-teaching posts, including clerks and support staff, remain unfilled across the district. The shortage has disrupted vital functions such as cleanliness, record-keeping, examination preparation, and maintenance of laboratories and libraries.
Educationists and parents alike express concern over the prolonged neglect, warning that if the vacancies are not filled urgently, Kulgam’s entire education system could face a serious breakdown. “These are not just numbers but reflect the future of our children. The government must address this on a priority basis,” a local teacher said.
Officials from the education department have so far maintained that efforts are underway to streamline staffing, but the ground reality continues to show otherwise. With each passing year, students in government schools, particularly those from poor families, face the brunt of this administrative vacuum with their education, discipline and future prospects hanging in the balance. (KNO)
