Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 08 Augus 2025
Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has sounded a strong alarm over what he describes as severe administrative lapses in the Islands’ education system. In a detailed appeal addressed to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi and Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah, the MP highlighted critical leadership vacancies and systemic neglect under the current Lt. Governor, Admiral (Retd.) D.K. Joshi.
According to Mr. Ray, more than half of the government-run Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools in the Union Territory are operating without Principals, Vice Principals, or Headmasters. Out of nearly 90 such schools, 46 reportedly lack any school leadership, with some zones seeing a single Vice Principal overseeing multiple schools — sometimes up to three or four. “Even eligible candidates are being overlooked due to sheer administrative apathy,” the MP stated.
Key concerns raised include:
• 39 out of 41 Secondary Schools (Class X) function without a Headmaster or Vice Principal.
• No full-time Assistant Education Officers are posted in any education zone.
• Deputy Education Officer posts are being managed on an additional charge basis.
• Leadership voids are widespread across South Andaman, Wimberlygunj, Little Andaman, Middle Andaman, Mayabunder, Diglipur, Car Nicobar, Nancowry, and Campbell Bay zones.
Mr. Ray further referenced the recently released Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 Report (2023–24) by the Ministry of Education, which ranks the Andaman & Nicobar Islands among the bottom three Union Territories. The report attributes the Islands’ low ranking—categorized as “Aakaankshi–1” with only 21–30% performance—to the glaring absence of Principals and Headmasters. This leadership vacuum has reportedly compromised education quality, especially in tribal and remote areas.
The MP also disclosed that around 900 sanctioned posts within the Education Department were abolished in recent years due to the administration’s failure to fill them within stipulated timelines, violating service rules. These posts, including Principals, clerks, drivers, and IT staff, were later revived through the efforts of the former Director of Education and some local officials. Despite this, most key positions remain vacant.
Calling the situation not merely a governance failure but an education crisis impacting thousands of children in this strategic Union Territory, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray demanded:
• An immediate inquiry into administrative failures under the Lt. Governor and the Education Department.
• Urgent recruitment drives to fill all vacant leadership and supporting staff positions.
• Accountability and disciplinary action against responsible officers.
“This is an urgent matter requiring swift intervention to restore credibility and efficiency in our education system,” the MP asserted, urging the Prime Minister and Home Minister to take prompt corrective steps.
