Lopsided PTR a persistent problem in Bandipora schools, academics hit

Srinagar, July 12: The lopsided Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) in government schools of north Kashmir districts has taken a toll on the academic progress of students enrolled in teacher-deficient schools.

The problem is especially pronounced in primary and middle schools, where the dearth of the teaching staff forces teachers to conduct combined classes, affecting the quality of education.

The problem of lopsided PTR persists in the schools even as the current academic session approaches its halfway mark.

Despite the passage of around four months since the current academic session started in schools, the primary and middle schools are grappling with the dearth of teachers.

The students in these teacher-deficient schools find themselves at the receiving end, while the School Education Department (SED) is still working to devise strategies to address the imbalance in the PTR in the schools.

In Bandipora district, the majority of the primary and middle schools are grappling with the dearth of teachers. Zone Sumbal is a case in place. In this education zone, the majority of the primary and middle schools are teacher deficient, taking a toll on the academics of the students.

Government Primary School (GPS) Abdul Abad in Sumbal zone has enrollment of 61 students but the department has posted only less teachers in the school. Similarly GPS Shadipora has a student population of 32 students and is manned by only three teachers. Ideally, a primary school with encouraging enrollment should have a minimum of five teachers available for five classes.

At GPS Baghpeth, the department has posted two teachers for 90 students while two teachers are also posted for 52 students at PS Sadiq Abad. The situation in other schools is no different as the department has posted only two or three teachers in primary schools.

GPS Abdul Abad has two teachers for 61 students while PS Baghpeth has two teachers for 90 students and GPS Eidgah Mohalla has two teachers for 62 students as well. As per the figures, Boys Middle School Sumbal has only 68 students but the government has posted 13 teachers in this school.

Most of the Primary schools have only two teachers posted due to which the students of more than one classes take joint classes in their respective schools.

An official said the problem has become persistent following the withdrawal of authority from the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to rationalise staff allocation in schools based on student requirements.

"The Cluster heads shift the teachers from primary and middle schools and deploy them in high and higher secondary schools. The arrangement is done to overcome the dearth of subject specific teachers and lecturers in these schools," the official said.

The official data reveals that while primary schools report encouraging enrollment numbers, these schools grapple with insufficient teaching staff, leaving students at a significant disadvantage. Chief Education Officer Bandipora, G M Puju was not available for his comments on the issue.