Srinagar: Education sector has been reeling in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district as nine educational zones are headless out of thirteen, with principals and staff not placed in several educational institutions, said official sources on Friday.
They told news agency KDC that out of 13 educational zones in the district, posts of nine Zonal Educational Officers (ZEOs) are lying vacant in the district.
There are 45 higher secondaries in the district, however, 13 higher secondaries are working without full-fledged principals, they said, adding that in these 13 higher secondaries, the senior most lecturers are running administrative affairs, which is the responsibility of principals whose chairs are left empty.
“Besides ZEOs and Principals, there is a lack of staff, including lecturers and masters in the district, leaving hundreds of students in the lurch,” sources said.
They further added that at least 150 lecturer posts in the district are lying vacant and in such circumstances at many schools teachers and masters meant to teach secondary classes are teaching 11th and 12th class students as well.
It was said that out of total 101 headmaster posts in the district, at least 50 are lying vacant and in such circumstances, the administrative affairs of these schools are run by senior teachers.
Due to shortage of teachers, masters, lecturers, headmasters and principals at many institutions, the studies of poor students are getting badly affected, they added.
On contacting Chief Education Officer (CEO) Budgam Mushtaq Qadri, he said that for the filling up of the vacant posts of ZEOs, Principals and Headmasters, a list is already with the senior officials.
Qadri also said that they are expecting an order in this regard very soon to address the issue. (KDC)
