Hyderabad, Nov. 5 -- Government District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) in Telangana have become almost non-functional due to the severe shortage of teaching staff. For the past 15 years, the Education Department has failed to recruit permanent lecturers, showing what many call criminal negligence. As a result, D.Ed students are being forced to study without proper lecturers and in some colleges, even without principals.

Across 10 government DIET colleges, there are 286 sanctioned lecturer posts, but only 16 are filled. The remaining 270 positions are vacant. In a few colleges, the government has deployed guest lecturers or deputed school teachers to temporarily fill the gap.

Due to issues in the Unified Service Rules, the...