Ministry Report: Severe Teacher Shortage in Grades 11 and 12, No Permanent Teachers
Community schools across Nepal are facing a severe shortage of teachers in Grades 11 and 12 at the secondary level.
According to the Annual Progress Report 2082/83, published by the Ministry of Education and Sports in the second week of Asoj 2083, the number of approved teaching positions and available teachers in these grades is extremely low compared with other levels of school education.
Although Grades 11 and 12 were incorporated into secondary education following the eighth amendment to the Education Act, 2028, the government did not create permanent teaching positions specifically for these grades. As a result, there is not a single permanent teacher position for teaching Grades 11 and 12.
According to the report, based on approved teaching positions, one teacher currently has to handle 60 students, giving a student-teacher ratio of 1:60.
Even when relief-quota, contract and other categories of teachers are included, the ratio improves only to 1:50. Compared with other levels of school education, the report presents this as a significant imbalance.
Student Pressure Far Exceeds Prescribed Standards
The Education Regulations prescribe standards for the number of students per teacher in community schools.
Under the regulations, the prescribed student-teacher ratio is:
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Mountain region: 40 students per teacher
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Hill region: 45 students per teacher
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Valley and Tarai region: 50 students per teacher
However, the student load in Grades 11 and 12 is substantially higher than these prescribed standards.
According to the latest report of the Office of the Auditor General and data from the ministry, the geographical student-teacher ratios for Grades 11 and 12 are as follows.
Mountain Region: Average Ratio 1:57
In the mountain areas of Koshi Province, the student-teacher ratio stands at 1:57, while in Karnali Province it is 1:53.
Hill Region: Average Ratio 1:51
In the hill areas of Koshi Province, the ratio is 1:55. It stands at 1:56 in Bagmati Province and 1:47 in Lumbini Province.
Valley and Tarai Region: Average Ratio 1:78
The highest student-teacher ratio is recorded in Madhesh Province at 1:108.
The ratio is 1:78 in Koshi Province, 1:79 in Lumbini Province and 1:65 in Bagmati Province.
According to the data, the prescribed student-teacher ratio has been maintained only in classes other than Grade 12 in the mountain region; Grades 11 and 12 in the hill region; and Grades 6, 8, 11 and 12 in the Valley and Tarai region.
Overall, student numbers in Grades 1 to 5 were found to be relatively low, while the student-teacher ratio in lower grades other than Grades 11 and 12 remained below 50.
Problems in Teacher Position Adjustment Affect Education Quality
According to the Office of the Auditor General’s report, lower grades have more approved teacher positions relative to student numbers, while Grades 11 and 12 continue to face high student pressure without a corresponding creation or adjustment of teacher positions.
The report indicates a major problem in the ministry’s system for adjusting and managing teacher positions.
While the student-teacher ratio remains comparatively balanced in institutional, or private, schools, teacher shortages in community schools have had a direct adverse effect on teaching and learning quality, according to the report.
Because of the shortage, students have not been able to receive sufficient subject-specific attention and guidance from teachers.
More Than 1.66 Million Secondary Students, Only 67,087 Teachers
The report also shows a substantial gap between the total number of students and available teachers at the secondary level.
Across Grades 9 to 12, a total of 1,666,553 students are enrolled, while only 67,087 teachers are working to teach them.
The figures underline the imbalance between student enrolment and available teaching personnel at the secondary level.
To address the problem, the report explicitly recommends a significant increase in the number of teachers teaching Grades 11 and 12.
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