Ludhiana, Aug. 24 -- The state government's decision to withdraw the advertisement for the recruitment of 2,000 physical training instructors (PTIs) has once again left the teaching community and job aspirants disappointed. The education department has also made it clear that there are no immediate plans to reissue the advertisement for the vacant posts, deepening the long-pending crisis of sports teachers in government schools.

The setback comes against the backdrop of 646 sports teachers posts advertised back in 2011 that remain unresolved to this day. According to official figures on the e-Punjab portal, there are 12,819 government primary schools across the state, yet not a single one has a designated physical education teacher. In t...