No gurus in 43 primary schools

Ahmedabad: A group of more than 250 students in Malangdev village in Songadh taluka of Tapi district sits restlessly for hours in a brick kiln structure that they call a primary school. Later, they return to their homes without learning anything as the school does not have a teacher, like 42 other neglected schools of Gujarat.
If one analyses the latest data released by the ministry of human resource and development (MHRD), it becomes apparent that Gujarat is least bothered about the education of children as 43 schools in the state are at the mercy of god, running without the primary need to run a school - a teacher.
According to the figures, in 636 primary schools there is only one teacher for a large number of students. The situation in secondary schools is no different. In 142 secondary schools of the state, there is only one teacher for the students, the MHRD figures reveal.
Experts believe that the current situation is the result of the state government's move to reduce budget allocations for the education sector, besides its failure to appoint teachers on a regular basis.
Education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama was not aware of the fact that the state's 43 primary schools are running without teachers. "I have not been given any such figures which say that so many schools do not have teachers," Chudasama said.
Chandu Joshi, an educationist and former president of Gujarat State Primary Teachers' Association, said that it is surprising that so many schools are without teachers. "It seems, the teachers have retired or been transferred," Joshi said.
Congress leader Manish Doshi emphasised that the state government must give priority to education sector. "The state government should appointment teachers to fill the vacant posts and begin a special drive to address the problem," he said.
Rajesh Gamit, a resident of Tokarva village of Songadh taluka of Tapi district, said that his two kids go to a village school where there is only one teacher for more than 300 students. "If the situation doesn't improve, how will the tribal children get education?" Gamit asked.