The Himachal Pradesh Education Department is set to issue show cause notices to teachers employed in schools affiliated with the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education, where the pass percentage for Class 10 students falls below 25%. This directive was announced on Tuesday by officials, who explained that the notices aim to solicit explanations from teachers regarding the unsatisfactory academic outcomes. According to Ashish Kohli, Director of Elementary Education, a thorough examination of the Class 10 board results across affiliated schools revealed that 116 institutions reported pass rates lower than 25%, with 30 schools recording an alarming 0% pass rate.

Kohli further indicated that the identification process for teachers who will receive these notices has been completed, and the issuance of notices will commence promptly. He stressed that while the department acknowledges factors such as teacher tenure and staff shortages, teachers must justify their role in achieving poor results after serving for a minimum of nine months in their respective schools.

Moreover, the Education Department is in the process of recruiting 1,122 Junior Basic Training (JBT) and 1,027 Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) positions. As part of their onboarding process, these new recruits will undergo a comprehensive 15-day induction training program at various District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) centers. This training aims to familiarize them thoroughly with the prescribed syllabus and teaching methodologies.

Kohli highlighted a significant concern that many teachers recruited in batches are currently engaged in other occupations, which has resulted in a detachment from teaching duties and a subsequent decline in academic performance. In response to this issue, the Education Minister has mandated induction training to re-establish the educational focus among these teachers.

In addition to staffing challenges, other contributing factors to the suboptimal academic outcomes include insufficient monitoring mechanisms and a policy of automatic promotion up to Class 8. These issues underscore the multifaceted approach being taken by the department to address and improve educational standards across the state.

Source: PTI

Also read: Himachal Pradesh: 850 institutes designated for excellence in budget