May 12: Shortage of teacher is a major constraint faced by the Ministry of Education today. The Ministry has a shortage of 222 teachers.

The Ministry has recruited 325 class 12 students as apprentice teachers this year alone. Another 100 graduates were recruited as temporary teachers. Despite this, the Ministry is still short of 222 teachers in higher secondary and primary schools especially in remote areas.

Sonam Tshering, the officiating Chief Human Resource Officer of Education Ministry said the Ministry plans to recruit fresh graduates as temporary teachers, recall retired teachers and accept more UN volunteer teachers.

"We have also proposed to enhance the current remuneration for the apprentice and the temporary teachers. The apprentice has been given 3000 per month and now in view of the high living cost, these apprentice teachers now having to move to the remote area, where they have to transport everything from the road head we proposed that their monthly payment be also raised. So that was also endorsed," said Sonam Tshering.

Sonam Tshering said the Ministry has chalked out several long term strategies to address the shortage. These include the re-deployment of teachers across the country. He said some schools in urban areas have more teachers than required. The ministry also plans to offer attractive pay packages to attract Indian teachers.

The Ministry is also working towards boosting the moral of the teachers by improving the living standards in remote areas. At present there are 513 schools with 5,596 national and non-national teachers in the country.