Agartala, May 03 (TIWN): Despite recruitment in education department in phases, a sizeable number of schools right from primary to Higher Secondary (+2) level are facing shortage of teachers.

Even after recruitment of 4406 Under Graduate Teachers (UGTs) in December, as many as 74 primary schools are not having minimum number of teachers.

However, the shortage of teachers is very high in Higher Secondary Schools as 507 such schools urgently need teachers to run the show, according to sources in the School Education Department.

Shortage of teacher is prevalence in Madhyamik and Higher Secondary (+2) level too. While 172 Madhyamik level schools require teaching staff, there are 134 such schools which don’t have minimum number of teachers affecting the normal functioning in these schools. Interestingly, the state has 89 primary schools where more teachers are engaged than sanctioned capacity.

While 42 High Schools have excess teachers, the number of Madhyamik level schools having excess teachers, the number of Madhyamik level schools having excess teachers stands at 58 and 90 Higher Secondary Schools have more teachers than their sanctioned posts.

Yes, there has been report of mal-distribution of teachers in different schools across the state but can’t remove the problem since our hands are tied, said a senior official of School Education department. If there is any plan to address the problem, he said, “Following advice from the higher ups, the department had started a process to identify schools having excess teachers unfortunately, we could not proceed much in this regard”.

Regarding the shortage of teachers in different schools, he said a process is in the air to recruit new teachers especially science teachers for rural areas. “But, can’t say when the plan will see the light of day”, he added.