Raichur: Several districts in the Kalyana Karnataka region continue to struggle to improve their performance in SSLC annual examinations, with a shortage of teachers emerging as a key factor affecting learning outcomes.
Official data shows that 4,107 high school teacher posts remain vacant across seven districts. Of the 11,745 sanctioned posts, only 7,638 teachers are currently in service, leaving a significant staffing gap. Of the 34 block education offices (BEOs), high schools in 25 blocks are facing an acute shortage of teachers.
“In some BEO jurisdictions, more than 50% of sanctioned posts are vacant, directly affecting classroom instruction and student performance,” said a high school teacher on condition of anonymity.
Devdurg in Raichur district is the worst affected, with over 62% of posts vacant. Of the 385 sanctioned posts, nearly 200 remain unfilled. Other regions facing similar shortages include Manvi (57%) in Raichur; Sandur and Siruguppa in Ballari district (54% each); Surpur in Yadgir district (51%); Sindhanur (49%) in Raichur; Shahapur (44%) in Yadgir; Gangavathi (43%) and Yelburga (41%) in Koppal district; and Chincholi (40%) in Kalaburagi district.
In the absence of permanent staff, schools are largely dependent on guest teachers, which stakeholders say is affecting academic consistency. Krishna Ittangi, an educationist from Koppal, said the govt should focus on filling vacancies and strengthening administrative structures in newly created taluks.
Officials, however, said that the efforts of guest teachers have helped sustain academic performance in some areas. “With the support of guest teachers and staff, the taluk has recorded improved results this year,” said Mallikarjun, in-charge BEO of Devdurg.
Education experts emphasise that BEO offices are crucial for supervising and implementing education policies at the grassroots level. At present, only 34 taluks in the region have such offices, leaving several newly formed taluks dependent on undivided administrative setups.
A committee of experts under the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB), led by Chhaya Deganvkar, has recommended establishing BEO offices in 14 new taluks. The school education department also sent a proposal last year stating that the KKRDB is willing to fund salaries, infrastructure and vehicles for newly sanctioned posts for three years after their establishment. However, the proposal is still pending with the govt.
The issue highlights the continuing gap between sanctioned staffing norms and their implementation on the ground in the Kalyana Karnataka region.
