Students growing,but where’s teacher?

At primary level,recent government studies have revealed that,in addition to the 5.23 lakh vacancies,another 5.1 lakh teachers are needed to meet the pupil-teacher ratio specified under the Right to Education Act. Of the teachers already on the job,7.74 lakh are largely untrained or without the needed qualifications.

At secondary level,the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan requires that 1.79 lakh new teachers be appointed with special focus on teachers for English,mathematics and science.

And there aren’t enough seats at teacher training institutes or teacher educators to meet the shortfall. At current levels,the total intake requirement at such institutes is 40,000 for elementary and secondary teachers’ courses,but the actual capacity is 28,957. In 2010,when Bihar,Chhattisgarh,Jharkhand,Orissa,Uttar Pradesh,West Bengal and the Northeast together needed 9.8 lakh teachers,their 171 institutes could take in no more than 4,615.

Institutes of higher education too are short of teachers. In the 24 older Central universities,35 per cent faculty positions are lying vacant. Of the 77 state universities,19 have 50 per cent or more vacant posts while 14 others are at least 40 per cent short. In technical education institutes,it is estimated that the faculty deficit is over a lakh. University Grants Commission data shows that over 65 per cent positions at the Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya,Chhattisgarh,and 58 per cent at the University of Allahabad are lying vacant.

The student-teacher ratio as per UGC norms should be around 13.5,but it is actually around 20.9. Government estimates show the number of teachers at higher education level needs to rise 54 per cent,by close to 3.83 lakh. And student enrolment is only growing,at an average 6 per cent per year.

The National Mission on Teachers & Teaching proposes to address issues from quality of teaching to recruitment policies,continuous training,teacher absenteeism,technology-enabled teaching,and vertical and lateral linkages from schools to universities.

The mission aims to correct the skewed pupil-teacher ratio through policy measures,including allowing scope for faculty mobility with incentives,and setting up schools of education that will coordinate between varsities,schools and teacher education institutes.

The states are being urged to develop institutional capacity to offer M Ed programmes in state universities,open schools of education in select universities,hold summer and winter schools to enable a faculty recharge and coordinate with the national mission to help develop e-content.

Miles to go

5.23 lakh

vacancies at primary school

5.1 lakh

additional primary teachers needed to meet RTE specification

7.74 lakh

of the existing teachers are notqualified enough

1.79 lakh

secondary teachers needed for English,mathematics and science under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan

40,000

is the required intake at institutes for elementary and secondary teacher courses

29,000

(a little less) is actual capacity

35%

vacancies at 24 older Central universities

50%

or more vacancies in 19 of 77 state