Vacant physical director posts hit sports activities in Telangana govt colleges

Sports activities in Telangana government colleges are being affected by a severe shortage of physical directors. Only 10 of 332 sanctioned posts are filled in junior colleges, while 21 of 132 posts are filled in government degree colleges.

Hyderabad: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

The proverb aptly describes the situation of students in government colleges. While the Telangana Congress government has been making tall claims of promoting sports to produce international-level athletes, the ground reality is different.

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From government polytechnics and government junior colleges to government degree colleges, all the institutions are facing a severe shortage of physical directors. Of the 45 physical director posts sanctioned in government polytechnics, only three are working, leaving 42 vacant. Similarly, one out of three physical director posts is vacant.

The situation is worst in government junior colleges. Only 10 out of the total 332 sanctioned physical director posts are currently filled. As for government degree colleges, only 21 physical directors are working against the total sanctioned strength of 132 posts. Despite such a large number of vacancies, the State government has not initiated any steps to fill them through direct recruitment.

This lack of physical directors is hitting the students.

The Telangana Board of Intermediate Education had earlier directed all colleges to mandatorily implement sports, Yoga, and meditation classes regularly, and integrate them into their official timetable, with at least one class per week. However, the government junior colleges hardly have physical directors to conduct any physical activity among students.

K Suresh, general secretary, Telangana Gazetted Junior Lecturers Association_475, says they have made several representations to the government seeking recruitment of physical directors, but there is no headway.

“Due to a shortage of physical directors, we junior lecturers have been conducting physical activity sessions once every Saturday. But to nurture sports talent from a young age, the colleges need physical directors,” he adds.