The position of Deputy Director of School Education and Literacy (DDPI) in Belgaum district has remained unfilled for the past seven months, sparking worries among teachers and staff regarding preparations for the upcoming academic year and the ongoing SSLC exam evaluations.
In October 2023, Belgaum DDPI Basavaraj Nalatwad was apprehended by the Lokayukta police for bribery. After his suspension, temporary officials assumed charge, but a permanent replacement was not appointed. DDPI Mohan Kumar Hanchote from the Chikodi educational district has been managing additional responsibilities in Belgaum for the past four months. The absence of a permanent DDPI has escalated the workload for officials in both Belgaum and Chikodi educational districts.
This year, the government has implemented a new three-part annual examination system for SSLC. Currently, 84,000 candidates have finished the first phase exams, with 38,000 from Belgaum educational district and 46,000 from Chikodi educational district. The remaining two phases are yet to be conducted, and guidance on exam administration is needed from the DDPI office. Managing the examinations alone is proving to be highly challenging for the Chikodi DDPI in both educational districts.
In Belgaum educational district, eight evaluation centers have been established, while six centers are operational in Chikkodi educational district for SSLC exam assessment. The combined number of government primary and high schools in both districts is 3,394. Some villages are situated 180-200km away from the district headquarters. Block education officers, teachers, education department officials, and the public encounter challenges due to the absence of the deputy director at scheduled times for administrative matters.
The government’s failure to appoint a permanent DDPI has been apparent. Due to the model code of conduct for the LS elections, it’s unlikely that a DDPI will be appointed until the first week of June. However, the new academic year is set to commence by the end of May. DDPI Mohan Kumar Hanchate acknowledged the increased workload resulting from overseeing two educational districts. He assured that efforts are being made to handle the workload effectively.
