Gurundia, Jul 18: The absence of permanent education officials has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the school administration and the quality of education in Odisha's tribal-dominated Gurundia block of Sundargarh district.

For nearly two years, Gurundia Block has been functioning without a permanent Block Education Officer (BEO) and three Additional Block Education Officers (ABEOs). The education system is currently being managed by officials holding temporary charge, leaving administrative responsibilities stretched and affecting the monitoring of schools and teachers.

The Gurundia block comprises 13 Gram Panchayats and around 156 schools, many of which are already struggling with an acute shortage of teachers. The permanent BEO's responsibilities are currently being handled by the BEO of Lahunipada, who oversees both blocks simultaneously. This dual responsibility has made it difficult to effectively supervise schools, monitor teachers, and ensure smooth implementation of educational programs.

Several key administrative posts, including the Management Information System (MIS) position, also remain vacant. Local residents fear that unless these vacancies are filled, students—particularly those from the tribal region-will continue to suffer due to weak educational administration.

Residents have demanded the immediate appointment of a permanent BEO and three permanent ABEOs, arguing that strong administrative leadership is essential to improve the quality of education in the block.

Teachers, however, maintain that classroom teaching has not been neglected despite the administrative challenges. They believe that filling the vacant posts, including the BEO, ABEOs, and MIS officer, would significantly strengthen the education system and improve coordination across schools.

As student enrolment continues to rise, the shortage of teachers and the absence of permanent administrative officers have become increasingly concerning. Teachers and Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs) are currently handling additional responsibilities to keep the education system functioning.

Meanwhile, Sundargarh Additional District Education Officer Sarangadhar Bariha acknowledged the staffing shortage and said the government is expected to carry out promotions soon. Once the promotion process is completed, the vacant BEO posts in the district are likely to be filled.

For now, the lack of permanent leadership in Gurundia's education department remains a major concern, with local communities warning that without timely intervention, the quality of education in this tribal region may continue to decline.