State of education: Only 11 teachers for 2000 students at women’s college Sopore

Sopore, Mar 14: The Government Degree College for Women in Sopore is facing scarcity of teaching staff affecting the overall functioning of the college. The college with about 2000 students has only 11 teachers. 

As per student ratio and sanctioned strength, it should be close to 30. The students told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that many teaching posts have been vacant for the past several years and it affects their studies. 

"There is a lack of teaching staff for core subjects like Political Science, History, Tourism, Home Science, Disaster Management, Urdu and others for the last nearly three years,” they alleged. Adding that lack of faculty is only adding to the miseries of students and they are able to attend merely one or two classes in a day. 

"We have been approaching the college administration for a long time, but nothing has been done in this regard,” said a student of 3rd semester. She said that they have already suffered academic losses during the past several years and there is a need to ensure every possible support to students at this juncture so that the losses can be compensated. 

"We feel as if we have come to a picnic. We spend all day on the lawn and nobody seems to be interested in resolving our issue," said Qurat, a 2nd semester student. Principal of the College, when contacted, admitted to KNO that there is a shortage of teaching staff and said that they have already forwarded the same to the higher ups. 

"We have been assured that their staff shortage issue will be resolved within days'', he added. Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla directed the principal GDCW to take immediate necessary action in the matter, and asked the authorities to share the action taken in this regard to her office. 

Pertinently, the degree colleges across the valley reopened on 15 February, 2023 following a fifty days of winter break—(KNO)