As many as 2,585 High Schools in the State are functioning without permanent headmasters, informed School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash in the State Assembly on Wednesday.
Currently, students are studying up to Class-X in 8,076 High Schools in the State.
In written reply to a query by BJD MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy, the Minister said that due to pending court cases and other legal hassles, the vacant headmaster posts have not been filled up.
Satpathy said hat due to the absence of permanent headmasters, quality education is not provided to students. When senior teachers are given the headmaster charge, education takes a backseat and students suffer, he said.
Replying to another question by BJP MLA Mohan Majhi, the Minister said that 115 schools in the State lack own buildings. Students of 90 Primary Schools are forced to study under open sky due to absence classrooms. Computer lab facilities are absent in as many as 1,048 High Schools. Of them, computers could not be operated in 28 schools due to lack of power supply. Besides, 261 schools do not have library facilities.
The Minister further said 315 schools have strength less than 10 students.