Education standard declines with few regular teachers
Ludhiana, October 16
Contrary to the state government’s claims of reforming the education system, government colleges face an acute shortage of staff. Students’ education is hit with few regular teachers, librarians, lab staff, wardens and chowkidars.
Nearly half of the 1,873 posts of teacher are filled by guest faculty, while 250 are taken by part-time teachers. In the 48 government colleges in the state, there are only 804 regular teachers. Teachers rue that the standard of education is declining in the absence of adequate regular staff.
With more than half of the posts being filled by guest faculty, the state government is saving money. The guest faculty is not paid by the state government. These are paid Rs 10,000 each from the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) fund. Moreover, over 60 per cent of the posts of librarian in government colleges are vacant. Government Science College, Jagraon, which is running MSc Botany and chemistry courses, has not had a librarian for over a decade now.
The state government has also failed to recruit junior lecturer assistants and lab attendants in laboratories for the past several years due to which lab work continues to suffer.
Prof Jaipal Singh, general secretary, Government College Teachers' Association, said guest faculty and part-time staff cannot be replacements for regular staff.
“Ironically, the posts of principal and teachers at two of the newly opened colleges at Jalalabad and Amargarh are vacant. These colleges have had to hire staff from nearby areas such as Faridkot, Muktsar, Malerkotla and Patiala. Besides, by introducing self-financed courses in colleges, the government was shirking from paying salaries to teachers. Students end up paying exorbitant fees as salaries of teachers are being paid from the PTA fund,” said Prof Jaipal.
Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka said, “The High Court has banned recruitment of teachers after the Ravi Sidhu case came to the fore in 2003. We have requested it to allow us to recruit staff. We will begin hiring as soon as we get the approval,” said Maluka.
Ludhiana, October 16
Contrary to the state government’s claims of reforming the education system, government colleges face an acute shortage of staff. Students’ education is hit with few regular teachers, librarians, lab staff, wardens and chowkidars.
Nearly half of the 1,873 posts of teacher are filled by guest faculty, while 250 are taken by part-time teachers. In the 48 government colleges in the state, there are only 804 regular teachers. Teachers rue that the standard of education is declining in the absence of adequate regular staff.
With more than half of the posts being filled by guest faculty, the state government is saving money. The guest faculty is not paid by the state government. These are paid Rs 10,000 each from the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) fund. Moreover, over 60 per cent of the posts of librarian in government colleges are vacant. Government Science College, Jagraon, which is running MSc Botany and chemistry courses, has not had a librarian for over a decade now.
The state government has also failed to recruit junior lecturer assistants and lab attendants in laboratories for the past several years due to which lab work continues to suffer.
Prof Jaipal Singh, general secretary, Government College Teachers' Association, said guest faculty and part-time staff cannot be replacements for regular staff.
“Ironically, the posts of principal and teachers at two of the newly opened colleges at Jalalabad and Amargarh are vacant. These colleges have had to hire staff from nearby areas such as Faridkot, Muktsar, Malerkotla and Patiala. Besides, by introducing self-financed courses in colleges, the government was shirking from paying salaries to teachers. Students end up paying exorbitant fees as salaries of teachers are being paid from the PTA fund,” said Prof Jaipal.
Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka said, “The High Court has banned recruitment of teachers after the Ravi Sidhu case came to the fore in 2003. We have requested it to allow us to recruit staff. We will begin hiring as soon as we get the approval,” said Maluka.
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