A majority of higher secondary schools in Bandipora district are without principals, reflecting the neglect shown by the school education department.
Out of the 26 higher secondary schools in the north Kashmirdistrict 15 are headless.
Similarly, around 20 high schools out of 53 are also withoutprincipals.
The vacant post of the Principals in the government-runschools has adversely affected the administrative as well the academic scenarioin these educational institutions.
“Keeping higher secondary schools headless is a majorchallenge for the department to plug the loopholes particularly in terms ofacademics. These institutions produce poor results in secondary and highersenior secondary level exams,” an official said.
The posts of Principal in these headless higher secondaryschools are managed by other equivalent rank officers as their additionalassignment, increasing burden on them.
“On one hand government wants to do away with the adhocismbut on the other they keep the crucial posts vacant which proves costly for thedepartment. It is not humanly possible for a person to manage two jobs at atime,” the official said.
Recently, authorities in the education department orderedrank promotion of scores of lecturers to the post of Principal (in-charge) inorder to fill the vacant posts in the higher secondary schools.
“The department had to give a onetime relaxation in rulesfor ordering promotion of people in the department. Main motive was to avoidadditional charge syndrome in the department. But there are scores of highersecondary schools which have been left out,” the official said.
Cheif education officer (CEO) Bandipora, Javeed Iqbal Wani,admitted that headless higher secondary schools cause a major challenge in improvingthe academic standards which otherwise remains a priority with the department.
“We have two zones without ZEO and around 20 to 22 out of 53high schools are also headless in the district which is a cause of concern,”Wani said.
He expressed his concern over the dearth of staff in schoolsfrom primary to middle level in the district.
“We have good enrollment in middle schools but someeducational institutions have dearth of teaching staff. But, we are not inposition to rationalise the staff on need basis due to MCC (Model Code ofConduct) which was imposed in view of Parliamentary elections,” Wani added.
The promotion and posting of headmasters and highersecondary principals or other equivalent post is ordered by the administrativedepartment. Commissioner secretary school education department, Sarita Chauhandidn’t respond to calls from this newspaper.