PRAYAGRAJ, April 10 -- A 13-year gap in fresh recruitment for principals in 4,512 government-aided secondary schools across Uttar Pradesh has left more than half of sanctioned posts vacant in these institutions.

According to the latest vacancy data received by the Prayagraj-based UP Directorate of Education from all 75 districts, there are currently 1,502 vacant principal posts in intermediate colleges and 1,003 vacant headmaster posts in high schools-amounting to a total of 2,505 vacancies, or 55.51%.

The Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) will now undertake recruitment for these posts. "Information about the vacancies will soon be sent online by the secondary education department," said a senior state educat...