Surat municipal school has two teachers for 300 students

Staff shortage is a serious problem at a municipal school in Surat where there are only two teachers to teach 300 primary students. The teachers are working overtime, while students are managing part of the curriculum on their own.

School no. 86 located at Mohan ni Chawl in Varachha is just like another bustling school operated by the Municipal School Board (MSB) in the city. It has a good number of students and the required infrastructure to provide quality education. What it does not have are teachers.

Against requisite staff of 10, the school has only two teachers who have to teach all subjects from class I-VII. Now class VIII has also been included in primary section and this has added to their woes. The situation came about a few years back, after some of the teachers retired and some others got transferres to other MSB schools.

"The 300-odd students belong to the economically weak section of society and cannot afford private schooling. Surat Municipal Corporation spends more than Rs100 crore to provide education to poor students, but it seems the children at school no.86 are not so lucky," said Bhimji Patel, BJP councillor of Varachha.

Patel added that the issue has been raised several times before MSB, but to no avail. The two teachers are overburdened and this impacts their efficiency. "Our children are given a lot of homework. The teachers ask them to study some easy lessons on their own. Both my children have to go for tuition," Devshi Bhalala, a resident said.

Rupin Patchhigar, chairman of MSB said, "Recruitment process of teachers is in the hands of the state government. We have sent a letter asking the government to immediately initiate recruitment process to fill vacant positions. The moment we get teachers we will appoint them at schools requiring them," he said.