The issue of severe teacher shortages in government schools took center stage during the proceedings of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Reena Kashyap highlighted the stark reality of educational institutions in her constituency of Pachhad. She informed the house that multiple schools in the area were operating without any teaching staff, severely impacting students' academic progress, and urged the state government to immediately fill the vacant positions.
Ground Situation in Pachhad: Parents Pool Funds to Pay Teachers
Detailing the plight of her constituency, MLA Reena Kashyap stated that 12 government schools in Pachhad currently have zero teachers assigned to them. Notably, several of these institutions have over 40 enrolled students who are left without formal instruction. To prevent their children's education from coming to a complete halt, parents have resorted to pooling money from their own pockets to hire private teachers. She specified that six schools in Narag and five schools in Sarahan have no teaching staff at all. Furthermore, key administrative and senior academic positions, including those of school principals and lecturers, remain vacant across numerous institutions in the belt.
Statewide Educational Statistics: 150 Teacherless Schools, 3,500 Single-Teacher Units
The legislative discussion brought forward critical statistics reflecting the state of public school infrastructure across Himachal Pradesh. Presently, 150 government schools across the state are running without a single teacher. Additionally, 3,500 schools are being managed by just one teacher each, bearing the entire administrative and academic workload. Data also revealed that 2,500 schools across the state have low student enrollments, with fewer than 15 pupils registered on their rolls.
Education Minister's Defense: Best National PTR and Future Hiring Targets
Responding to the concerns raised in the assembly, Education Minister Rohit Thakur stated that Himachal Pradesh maintains the best Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) in the entire country at 1:10, meaning there is one teacher for every ten students on average. However, he acknowledged that remote and geographically difficult pockets continue to face persistent shortages of teachers and support staff.
The Education Minister explained that the government is actively attempting to address these vacancies in remote zones through a strategic rationalization process. He conceded that various external and administrative pressures influence teacher postings, which sometimes necessitates changes to deployment orders. Highlighting the administration's recruitment record, the minister stated that 9,000 teacher posts have already been filled under the current government, and assured the house that an additional 6,500 teachers will be recruited before the administration completes its term.
Chief Minister Sukhu Intervenes: Framing Policy for Single-Teacher Institutions
Intervening during the session, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the state government is formulating a comprehensive policy to assign dedicated teachers to single-teacher schools across Himachal Pradesh. Referring to Sirmaur district, the Chief Minister noted that although the Central Government has classified Sirmaur as an 'Aspirational District', candidates from the region continue to perform exceptionally well and secure selections in written recruitment examinations.
