No teacher in over 100 LP Schools in Lakhimpur district

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: At a time when the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 aims to provide infrastructure support and innovative education centres to bring back dropouts into the mainstream, besides tracking students and their learning levels, facilitating multiple pathways to learning involving both formal and non-formal education modes and association of counselors or well-trained social workers with schools, the poor condition of education sector in Lakhimpur district regarding high number of vacancies in posts of teacher along with education officer has come into light.

At present, over hundred Lower Primary Schools of the district are running without a single teacher. These posts of teachers have lying vacant at a time when the NEP 2020 has brought major reform in 34 year-old education policy of the nation with universalization of Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE). Moreover, more than 250 LP Schools of the district are running with single teacher as per report found from the District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO).

Under such circumstances, the schools without teachers have to be taken care of by the teachers of neighbouring schools or the local public. Along with the students of these schools without teacher, the students of over 250 schools with single teacher are deprived of proper education due to shortage of teaching staff.

As per report, a total of 3,170 posts of teachers are lying vacant in the district. Out of them, 1,970 posts are lying vacant in various High and Higher Secondary Schools while 1200 posts are lying vacant in LP Schools.

Not only are many teacher posts are lying vacant in the district, but also three posts of Block Elementary Education Officer (BEEO), out of six, are also lying vacant. At present, though permanent BEEOs are serving in Lakhimpur, Naoboicha and Narayanpur Education Blocks, the in-charge BEEOs have to render services in Bihpuriya, Dhakuakhana and Bordoloni Education Blocks under the district. Three School Inspectors (SI) are shouldering the charge of BEEOs in Bihpuriya, Dhakuakhana and Bordoloni Education Blocks. Similarly, 9 posts of SI out of 12, are also lying vacant in the district.

Notably, the foundational principles of NEP 2020 are access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability. The policy believes that the education system should develop good human beings with rational thinking, compassion, empathy, courage, resilience, scientific temper, creative imagination, and ethical values. In order to realize these principles in the education sector of Lakhimpur district, the high number vacancy of teachers along with the education officers concerned vacant posts of teacher and BEEO should be filled up at the earliest.

Also Read: ASPTA Teachers' Body Suggests Measures to Impart Education in LP Schools of Assam