Education News : Crisis on Schools! If the student count is below 20 then....

With the tenth-grade exams just a few months away, a serious question has arisen over the adjustment process of additional teachers initiated by the education department. This process is alleged to be leading to the closure of Marathi and other linguistic schools in Mumbai, according to Anil Boranare, President of the Mumbai Headmasters Association (North Division) and an invited member of the BJP State Executive Committee. He has demanded that the state's education minister intervene immediately and withdraw the orders issued by the education director.

Bornare explained that the changes made in the approval criteria for grades 9 and 10 have intensified this issue. According to the new rules, a teacher will be provided for a class only if there are at least 20 students. In many schools in Mumbai, there are fewer than 20 students, leading to a concerning situation of 'zero teachers' in those schools. Previously, regardless of the number of students in grades 9 and 10, each subject had a dedicated teacher. However, after the new GR issued on March 15, 2024, thousands of teachers have been pushed into the 'extra' category and have been ordered to be adjusted elsewhere.

The Director of Education has instructed all districts in the state to complete this adjustment process by December 5. However, there is concern that the regular teaching operations of schools may come to a halt due to this rush. In many schools, the number of teachers is shown as zero, raising serious questions about who will teach the students and how the curriculum will be completed on time. Particularly, there is significant concern among both parents and teachers about who will handle all the work from oral exams to science practicals for the tenth-grade board exams in February.

The actual situation of many schools is extremely dire. There is concern that students in tenth grade at schools with fewer than 20 students will be completely directionless due to the lack of teachers. If schools do not receive enough teachers, there will be educational loss, and small schools may also be on the path to closure, warned the headmaster association.

Anil Boranare has firmly stated that schools with fewer than 20 students must still have at least three subject teachers. He mentioned that if such schools are provided with the appropriate teaching staff, it will ensure continuity in students' education and maintain the quality of the schools. The government needs to make an urgent decision to prevent any impact on the daily operations of schools and avoid any harm to students. Although the intention to implement teacher adjustments is appropriate, it is essential that its execution is logical and takes into account the real situation, as expressed by the education sector. Everyone is keenly watching what decision the education department will make in the coming days.