Kalaburagi
The Karnataka government’s efforts to strengthen public education appear to face a serious setback in parts of Kalaburagi district, where 17 government primary schools in Chittapur taluk are reportedly functioning without a single teacher following recent transfer exercises.
According to local residents and education stakeholders, several government lower primary schools in Kalagi and Shahabad educational circles have become “teacherless institutions” after staff were transferred under the counselling process without immediate replacement postings.
The affected schools include institutions in Bannatti, Belagera Mungi Tanda, Halkarti Harijanwada, Hulandagera, Karekal, Nalwar Subbanayak and Baddunayak Tanda, Kamarwadi Tanda, Shahabad Court Area, Sugur (K), Chittapur Harijanwada, Chittapur Devadasi Colony, Belagera Chinna Tanda, Fattunayak Tanda, Siddarth Nagar in Kollur, Ramatirtha Tanda and Konageri Government Lower Primary School in Allur village.
Parents and villagers report that the absence of teachers has severely impacted learning, with student attendance dropping sharply. In some cases, only a few students continue to attend, while others have almost no regular classes. Many parents are now shifting their children to private schools in nearby towns, despite financial strain.
Locals say classrooms that once hosted active learning have now turned largely silent. A resident questioned how education can continue when children arrive at school but find no teachers present.
The issue is believed to have emerged after the recent teacher transfer process, where outgoing teachers were reassigned without ensuring timely replacement appointments. Education activists and community leaders have criticised the situation, calling it administrative negligence and a failure in planning.
Concerns have also been raised about a possible long-term plan to merge or close smaller rural schools due to declining enrolment. Villagers fear that reduced student numbers caused by lack of teachers could later be used as justification for shutting down these institutions, though no official confirmation has been given.
Local residents and education stakeholders have urged the Department of School Education to immediately deploy teachers to the affected schools. Experts warn that continued vacancies could severely affect first-generation learners and children from marginalised communities who depend heavily on government schooling.
