UP Teacher Shortage: 237 Teachers For 17,320 Students, Now Also Assigned BLO Duty

Schools in the district's urban area are facing a severe crisis as a long-standing teacher shortage is being worsened by the mass assignment of Booth Level Officer (BLO) duties. This combination is severely affecting children's education and has brought some schools to the brink of closure.

Teachers, who are protesting the move, argue it is impossible to make students proficient in language and mathematics while they are occupied with non-teaching tasks.

Major Shortage Of Teachers In Urban Area

The urban area already has a significant deficit in its teacher-student ratio.

Total Schools: 93

Total Students: 17,320

Total Teachers Posted: 237

Single-Teacher Schools: 21 (Five of which are managed by a single temporary teacher with no permanent staff)

In most schools, the number of teachers is considerably low compared to the student population.

BLO Duty Exacerbates Crisis

Nearly all school staff—including teachers, Shikshamitras (para-teachers), and instructors—have been assigned BLO duty, with only headteachers being exempted.

Teachers' associations report that this has made it difficult for single-teacher schools to even remain open. Laiq Ahmed, General Secretary of the Uttar Pradeshiya Primary Teachers' Association, noted, "Even those who are the sole teacher at their school have been assigned BLO duty. This has brought such schools to the brink of closure. How will children become proficient in such a situation?"

Amit Goswami, President of the association, added, "In a composite school, it is difficult for one teacher to handle eight classes. We have been submitting countless memorandums regarding BLO duty for years, but there has been no hearing." The association plans to hold a meeting and submit another memorandum to the District Magistrate.

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Nipun Assessment Tests Impacted

The crisis comes as Nipun Assessment Tests are actively being conducted in schools by teams from the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET). Teachers say they would normally prepare students for these tests, but their absence for BLO duty means students are unprepared and "lack the confidence to respond to the external assessors," which they claim will negatively affect the test results.

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Official Response

In response to the situation, Saurabh Bhatt, ADM (Finance and Revenue), stated, "Instructions have been given to relieve those assigned to BLO duty. If any school is facing a teacher shortage, the Basic Education Officer has been instructed to make the necessary arrangements."