With Teachers’ Day around the corner, let’s take a look at the state of affairs in India. Our country is facing an acute shortage of teachers, with over one million teaching posts vacant in schools across the country. This shortage is particularly acute in rural areas, where nearly two-thirds of schools have a teacher shortage.

There are a number of reasons for the teacher shortage in India. One reason is that the government has not been able to recruit enough teachers to meet the demand. This is due to a number of factors, including low salaries, poor working conditions, and a lack of career opportunities for teachers.

Another reason for the teacher shortage is that many teachers are leaving the profession. This is due to factors such as stress, burnout, and the lure of better-paying jobs in other sectors.

The teacher shortage is having a negative impact on the quality of education in India. Schools with teacher shortages are often forced to combine classes, which can make it difficult for teachers to provide individual attention to pupils. This can lead to pupils falling behind in their studies.

The teacher shortage is also a major barrier to achieving gender parity in education. In India, girls are more likely to drop out of school than boys, and this is often due to the lack of female teachers.

What can be done to address the issue?
There are a number of things that can be done to address the teacher shortage in India. The government needs to increase teacher salaries and improve working conditions. It also needs to create more career opportunities for teachers, such as by providing them with opportunities to teach at higher levels of education.

In addition, the government needs to address the reasons why teachers are leaving the profession. This includes providing more support for teachers, such as by offering them counselling and stress management training. 

The shortage is expected to get worse in the coming years, as the population continues to grow and more children enter school.

The shortage is having a disproportionate impact on the most marginalised communities, such as those in rural areas and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.