The functioning of government higher secondary schools across the district has been severely affected due to an acute shortage of non-teaching staff, raising serious concerns among teachers, students, and parents. From clerks and lab assistants to librarians, watchmen, and sanitation workers, vacancies in key support roles are disrupting the day-to-day operations of schools and diverting teachers from their primary responsibility of classroom instruction.
According to school authorities, many government higher secondary schools have been operating for years with minimal or no non-teaching staff. As a result, teachers are often forced to take on additional administrative duties such as maintaining records, handling admissions, managing examination paperwork, and overseeing mid-day meal logistics. “We are spending more time in offices than in classrooms,” said a senior teacher from a rural government school. “This directly affects the quality of education students receive.”
Laboratory work and library services have been among the worst-hit areas. In the absence of lab assistants, practical classes in science subjects are either irregular or conducted without adequate support, raising safety concerns. Similarly, many school libraries remain locked or poorly maintained due to the lack of librarians, depriving students of essential learning resources.
The shortage has also impacted school hygiene and security. Several campuses reportedly function without permanent sanitation workers or watchmen, leading to unsanitary conditions and safety risks, especially for girl students. Parent associations have voiced alarm over the situation, warning that continued neglect could lead to falling enrolment in government schools as families opt for private institutions.
Headmasters across the district have repeatedly submitted representations to the education department, urging immediate recruitment or temporary appointments to fill the vacancies. “Even one clerk and one attendant per school would make a significant difference,” said a headmaster of an urban higher secondary school. “We are managing with goodwill and overwork, but it is not sustainable.”
Education department officials acknowledged the problem and attributed the delay to procedural and financial constraints. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that proposals for filling vacant non-teaching posts are under consideration and that interim arrangements may be made in the coming months.
Meanwhile, education activists have called on the state government to treat the issue as a priority, stressing that strengthening non-teaching support is essential for improving overall educational outcomes. “Teachers alone cannot run a school system,” said a local education campaigner. “Without adequate support staff, government schools will continue to struggle, and students will pay the price.”
As the new academic year progresses, stakeholders hope that swift action will be taken to restore normalcy and ensure that government higher secondary schools can function effectively and with dignity.
