Bhubaneswar, Oct. 27 -- Even as the Odisha government has transformed several schools into smart schools under its 5T initiative, it has failed to address the core issue-- shortage of teachers-in those institutes.

Take for example, Chitrakonda Higher Secondary School in Malkangiri district, Lal Bahadur High School in Papadahandi block of Nabarangpur district and Government Girl's High School in Rayagada to name a few are some of the schools which have facilities of smart classrooms, e-libraries, e-laboratories, modern washrooms and drinking water filters at par with a private school. However, in true sense, such schools are still reeling under severe teacher shortage like before.

Balaram Padhiari, a guardian in Chitrakonda said, "Develo...