Hyderabad: Parents are taking to new ways to register their protest over shortage of teachers and lack of facilities at government schools in various districts.

In Rampur village of Medak district, parents and locals led by sarpanch Venkatram Reddy, locked the school gates over the callous attitude of officials. This school had eight sections and only three teachers to take classes. It should have at least three or four more teachers for classes to function regularly, according to educationist N. Narayana.

In Gattu and Amarabad mandals of Mahbubnagar district, students, parents and locals took to the streets demanding allotment of teachers. Similar protests were seen in Marpally mandal in Ranga Reddy.

Mr R. Venkat Reddy, national convenor of MV Foundation, which also took part in these rallies, deplored the functioning of the education department. “Administration is not happy with less enrolment in government schools. However, look at the sad state of affairs in schools that have a good number of students. There are not enough teachers to conduct classes. This problem sho-uld be addressed on priority basis since the academic year has already commenced.”

Mr Narayana felt appointment of teachers in all government schools will take some more time. “Although the government recently took decision to appoint 9,335 Vidya Volunteers for government schools in all districts, in view of the delay in recruitment of teachers, this exercise will take at least two more months for completion. By the time teachers step into government schools in all districts, one quarter of the academic year will have been completed,” Mr Narayana told this newspaper.