PARBAT: An assessment by the Education Development and Coordination Unit has revealed that 270 of the 272 community schools in Parbat district are being run by principals appointed in violation of the Education Act.
Only Narayan Secondary School in Kushma and Himalaya Secondary School in Khurkot have principals meeting the legal criteria. The Act specifies fixed terms and academic qualifications for principals, but these have largely been ignored.
Under the Education Regulations 2002, a principal’s term is limited to five years, with reappointment requiring a competitive selection process. However, many schools have principals who have served for far longer without meeting the required qualifications; in some cases, lower-level teachers are heading secondary schools.
Despite a directive from the Education and Human Resource Development Centre on July 23 to replace principals serving beyond their term, no school in Parbat has initiated the process. Local governments have also failed to create necessary laws or procedures to ensure proper appointments.
Officials say the unit has already instructed schools to comply, but school management committees and teachers are reluctant to take on the role.
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