In blatant violation of the education regulations, primary level teachers are functioning as principals in 27 out of the 58 secondary schools, but the District Education Office (DEO) has turned a blind eye to the fact.[break]
Shiva Secondary School, Kalegaun, and Bageshwari Secondary School, Rimna, both of which are situated close to the district headquarters, are headed by primary level teachers.
Even the principals of the remaining 31 schools are not qualified as many of them are lower secondary level teachers.
Vice-president of Nepal Teachers´ Union, Jajarkot, Rajendra Bahadur Karki claimed that senior and qualified teachers are compelled to make way for unqualified primary teachers who are appointed through political intervention.
Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist, and Nepali Congress pull the strings in the management committee of schools to appoint unqualified primary teachers as principals.
The senior-most teacher in the district and principal of Tribhuvan Higher Secondary School, Khalanga Kedar Bahadur Shah bemoaned that even the DEO and professional organizations are ignoring the violation of Education Regulations.
The malpractice crept in as many schools that came into operation in the recent past lacked adequate infrastructure and human resources, paving way for the primary and lower secondary level teachers to become principal.
Former central member of the Nepal National Teachers´ Organization Hem Bahadur Shah said teachers from far away apply for the post of principal but unqualified teachers come to take on the role when the schools begins operations.
District Education Officer Ghanashyam Aryal while conceding that adverse financial condition of the new schools has resulted in the malpractice said, “We are determined to correct the anomaly.”
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