Faculty shortage: Lack of teachers in schools
Investment in teachers is important to raise academic standards
Investment in teachers is important to raise academic standards. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Investment in brick and mortar can bring infrastructural reforms, but academic standards can only be raised by investing in teaching staff and curriculum development. That, however, does not seem to be a priority right now.
According to a rough assessment, the system needs at least 5,000 new teachers. The Establishment Division conducted a study about four years ago that recommended the formation of 2330 new positions for the teachers.
Daily wages teachers are hired to fill up the gaps that often go on strike or to the courts on nonpayment of dues and regularisation of services.
Examinations: Education boards review system
The existing strength of regular government teachers is around 9,000, while in private institutions, about 17,138 teachers are available for roughly the same number of students – around 200,000.
The report also highlighted disparity and segregation in the system as three parallel systems of schools and colleges are being run under one authority.
Officials say that since 2009, no new inductions of teachers have been made. The numbers for enrollment and new schools have been increasing, but no new staff has been hired. The system is being run on a stopgap basis by hiring daily wagers or borrowed teachers from one institute or the other.
“A boys’ school in I-9/4 and a girls’ school in G-11/2 have no staff at all,” said Federal Schools Teachers’ Association President Malik Ameer. “Teaching quality cannot be raised unless the government invests in teachers,” he said, adding, “Parents will continue to send their children to private schools even after we overhaul our buildings and get new buses.”
Major colleges like in F-10/2, I-8/4, I-10/4, G-10/4, F-8/4, and F-7/4 have overcrowded classrooms, with almost every primary sections having huge strengths of more than 1,000 students. However, no facilities have been provided to them.
Distance education: Virtual University rector honoured
There was a policy to induct teaching assistants for primary sections, but for some years that policy has also not been followed, complained a primary section teacher. “In junior sections, the kids are even taught how to go to the washroom and button their shirts. It’s difficult for a teacher to give attention to 50 kids”.
Officials also said that they tried to design new positions, but the finance ministry rejected the proposal to fill existing vacancies. The government did make an effort to add strength by advertising some 500 vacant seats. They say the vacant seats cannot be filled until a pending court case regarding daily wage staff is resolved.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2017.
Investment in brick and mortar can bring infrastructural reforms, but academic standards can only be raised by investing in teaching staff and curriculum development. That, however, does not seem to be a priority right now.
According to a rough assessment, the system needs at least 5,000 new teachers. The Establishment Division conducted a study about four years ago that recommended the formation of 2330 new positions for the teachers.
Daily wages teachers are hired to fill up the gaps that often go on strike or to the courts on nonpayment of dues and regularisation of services.
Examinations: Education boards review system
The existing strength of regular government teachers is around 9,000, while in private institutions, about 17,138 teachers are available for roughly the same number of students – around 200,000.
The report also highlighted disparity and segregation in the system as three parallel systems of schools and colleges are being run under one authority.
Officials say that since 2009, no new inductions of teachers have been made. The numbers for enrollment and new schools have been increasing, but no new staff has been hired. The system is being run on a stopgap basis by hiring daily wagers or borrowed teachers from one institute or the other.
“A boys’ school in I-9/4 and a girls’ school in G-11/2 have no staff at all,” said Federal Schools Teachers’ Association President Malik Ameer. “Teaching quality cannot be raised unless the government invests in teachers,” he said, adding, “Parents will continue to send their children to private schools even after we overhaul our buildings and get new buses.”
Major colleges like in F-10/2, I-8/4, I-10/4, G-10/4, F-8/4, and F-7/4 have overcrowded classrooms, with almost every primary sections having huge strengths of more than 1,000 students. However, no facilities have been provided to them.
Distance education: Virtual University rector honoured
There was a policy to induct teaching assistants for primary sections, but for some years that policy has also not been followed, complained a primary section teacher. “In junior sections, the kids are even taught how to go to the washroom and button their shirts. It’s difficult for a teacher to give attention to 50 kids”.
Officials also said that they tried to design new positions, but the finance ministry rejected the proposal to fill existing vacancies. The government did make an effort to add strength by advertising some 500 vacant seats. They say the vacant seats cannot be filled until a pending court case regarding daily wage staff is resolved.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2017.