Severe Shortage of Teachers in Karnataka Govt Schools

Vinod Kakumanu
Sept. 30, 2021, 12:16 p.m.

Karnataka’s government schools are facing an acute deficit of teachers at all levels. This dearth of teachers for various subjects is weighing heavily on the work load of the available teachers, who are struggling to carry on the show.

While addressing a gathering on the occasion of Teachers’ Day on September 5, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that 5000 teachers will be recruited in the academic year 2021-22 by the state government to fill vacancies in government schools. State Education Minister B.C. Nagesh has advised the Chief Minister to prioritise the recruitment of teachers for government schools. Apart from the filling up of 5000 posts, the schools would need guest teachers for the rest. A senior official from the public instruction department revealed that authorities at the local level are permitted to hire guest teachers.

President of the Karnataka State Government Secondary School Assistant Masters Association, H.K. Manjunath said that, although there is a shortage of teachers every year, the problem is exacerbated this year due to increased enrolments in government schools. He also said that they have appealed to the government for retaining the teachers retiring mid-year and expediting the recruitment process. Due to technical issues, hiring of guest teachers was adversely affected in several districts.