Kupwara, Jan 2: Three government schools in this frontier district have scored zero percent results in the matriculation examination, results of which were declared recently.
 Twenty four students from Government Higher Secondary School (Batpora) Magam appeared in the class 10th examination but none of them passed. Not a single student out of 16 enrolled in Government High School Manigah could clear the examination, while 17 students enrolled at Government High School Hajitara (Tangdhar) also failed to make it.  
 “It is painful that despite having all basic facilities and infrastructure students enrolled in government school fail to perform. Teachers at government schools are well  qualified and experienced. On the other hand private school teachers are not that qualified and experienced despite that they ensure their students score good marks,” said a parent Bashir Ahmad.
 Teachers claim that the main reason for the poor performance of government schools in matriculation exams are: Lack of teaching staff and infrastructure. “There is acute  shortage of teaching staff and other infrastructure in Kupwara schools. Nearly 700 posts of teachers, 150 masters, and 250 lecturers are lying vacant in the district from the past couple of years” said Muhammad Amin Khan president teachers forum Kupwara.
 Another teacher held the parents and students responsible for poor performance.  “Parents not providing moral education to their children and not guiding them properly too are responsible for the poor performance of the students. Parents have to act as role models for their children,” said a teacher, adding that "It is only when children are unable to cope in elite schools parents send them to government schools."
 However, a parent contradicted teacher’s claim saying, “Teachers lack spirit to teach and they are only bothered about their salaries.”
 “There are several teachers who are working as mates and contractors and find no interest in the field of teaching but they remain attached with the job only for salary. Secondly, the teacher transfer policy is also not followed completely. This policy is only for those who have no sources in the district and divisional offices of the Education department. The officers feel happy in posting and deploying their favorite teachers in the nearby schools of the district headquarters or major town where they can avail all kinds of facilities,” said a retired teacher.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 3 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST