Education sector in Shopian on crutches, 22 high schools without heads

Srinagar, Mar 14: The education sector in Shopian district has been left on crutches as the educational institutions have been rendered headless, while adhocism has galored in the district as schools are manned by officers as their additional assignment. As per the official figures, 22 government high schools are functioning in Shopian district without permanent headmasters and the job is manned by an officer of the equivalent rank as his additional assignment.

The information has been produced by Chief Education Officer (CEO) Shopian in reply to the RTI application filed by Nasir Khuehami. As per the official documents two higher secondary schools in the district are without principals as well. As per the official statistics, two high schools upgraded under the erstwhile RMSA scheme by the department are without post of headmaster. "High school Batafojan and High school Saidpora are without creation of Headmaster posts," the official document reads.

The official figures have pointed out gaps in the education sector of the district as six headmasters are currently holding the powers of drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) for other headless schools. Out of four education zones, Shopian district has only education with full time ZEO in Keegam education zone while DDO powers of some education zones have been assigned to principals of higher secondary schools. As per the official figures, 15 higher secondary schools have full time principals while four higher secondary schools have in-charge principals and few higher secondary schools are manned by officials as look-after principals. The district has 67 vacancies of lecturer posts including Mathematics (11), Urdu (7), Political Science (6), Physical Education (5), English(5), Economics (6), Arabic (4), History (4). The district is also facing a dearth of accommodation as various schools in far off areas of the district do not have proper classroom facilities for the students.