One of the oldest government educational institutions of the Baramulla district, Baba Yousuf High School, Sopore is having 18 teachers for 30 students, a teacher-pupil ratio of about 1:1.5 against the norm of 1:30.
Throwing the rules to the winds, the officers of the education department have deployed five more teachers in the high school on different grounds, while as 13 teachers are working on available vacancies. The school is situated in the Sopore town, making it an easy posting for accommodating blue-eyed teachers.
An official of the department, who does not wanted to be named, said school is over staffed as some teachers and masters have managed their adjustment in this school on health grounds.
“These teachers belong to the influential lot. There adjustment is recommended from higher levels of the department which tells upon the schools located in far off areas,” an official said.
This is not the lone school which is overcrowded by teachers but there are dozens of such schools in the town which depict the grim picture viz-a-viz student teacher ratio.
Government High Schoool, Chankhan in Sopore town has 20 teachers for around 80 students. The norm for pupil-teacher ratio is also violated in this school as well.
“The school has nine teachers and seven masters. Besides, two teachers are on deployment in this school,” the official said.
While these schools are over staffed, the official said, there aremany schools in the district, especially in far-flung areas, where adequate number of teachers is not available.
Despite the strict directions from the state administration to de-attach all the employees to their original place of postings, the deployment of government school teachers continues.
“Actually the teachers deployed on academic arrangement, marriage ground or health grounds are exempted as per the government order. Rest the department has issued order for cancellation of all deployments,” the official said.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) G N Itoo said he will take up the matter with chief education officer Baramulla to inquire about the surplus staff in school.