Karnataka is grappling with a severe shortage of science, mathematics, and language teachers in its government primary schools, where nearly 22 lakh students are enrolled. The state has only 8,895 science and math teachers for students in classes 1 to 5, alongside a significant disparity in language instruction: just 5,732 English teachers compared to 81,979 Kannada teachers. This data, reported by The New Indian Express, highlights a critical gap in educational resources.
Officials have pointed to the employment of guest teachers as a temporary solution, but experts argue this is not a sustainable fix. The lack of permanent staff is seen as a major contributor to poor SSLC results in certain districts, with students failing to grasp foundational concepts. This impacts both urban and rural areas, further deepening the educational divide, particularly regarding language barriers.
Child rights activist Vasudev Sharma emphasized that the shortage of subject-specific teachers hampers children’s potential. He pointed out that when children are not taught the basics in their native language, it makes learning more difficult, especially when they transition to English-medium schools later. This often leads to dropouts, a problem exacerbated by the limited scope of the Right to Education, which mandates compulsory schooling only up to Class VIII.
In addition, nearly one lakh teachers were recently demoted due to government policy changes, further aggravating the situation. Educationists continue to criticize the reliance on guest teachers, warning it creates instability in the education system and leaves students vulnerable.
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