TEACHER SHORTAGE IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

Dec. 31, 2018

According to a study conducted across six States by two NGOs, despite States increasing their budgets for school education in the past three years, funds are not enough to attract teachers to government schools.

About:

  • The report has been prepared jointly by two NGOs namely Child Rights and You (CRY) and the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA).

  • The report examines budgeting for school education in six States — West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra — during the 14th Finance Commission recommendation period, which started in April 2015.

Key Findings:

  • State governments have increased their budgets for school education in the past three years following the 14th Finance Commission recommendations.

  • But the allotment of funds has not been enough to attract permanent qualified teaching staff to government schools.
    • As on March 2017, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have from 19% to 34% of total teacher positions at the elementary level vacant.

    • Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were relatively better with 5.9% and 2.6% posts unfilled.



  • More than one lakh schools in India are run with only one teacher. The figures don’t entirely capture the severity of the shortfall as they do not reflect the shortage of subject teachers.

Source : The Hindu