“Getting the right teachers into the right schools: managing India’s teacher workforce” @ World Bank Study
Study Available @ https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/28340/9781464810961.pdf
Press Release | Times of India (Accessed @ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/teachers-appoint-proxies-in-govt-schools-says-world-bank-study/articleshow/63895990.cms)
Teachers appoint proxies in govt schools says World Bank study
Fifty percent of secondary school teachers’ posts in Uttar Pradesh are lying vacant. To make matters worse, many government-employed teachers send proxies, who may not have even basic qualifications, to teach in their place. In Jharkhand 71.7% teaching posts in secondary schools are vacant and proxy candidates appear for teachers' qualifying exams. Incidentally, states with the highest vacancy were also those with the worst literacy rates, less than 70%.
This was revealed in a World Bank study titled ‘Getting the right teachers into the right schools: managing India’s teacher workforce’ released recently. Human resource and development ministry data shows overall vacancy of government teachers in India at the elementary level (classes I to VIII) is 18% and at the secondary level (classes IX and X) is 15%. States like Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have major shortage of teachers at elementary and secondary levels. Along with vacancies, truancy of the employed teachers is a cause for concern according to the study.
“… Alarming problem reported by a few states in the study is that of proxy teachers, whereby a teacher appointed by the government illegally appoints another person to work in her/ his place for some consideration. Proxy teachers are more common in remote and rural areas, but are also found in urban areas” stated the report which covered nine states-- Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. It added that though the extent of the practice of proxy teachers could not be determined during the study, it was openly discussed during focus group discussions.
The study cited a recent case in Punjab where many applying to become teachers were found to possess bogus degrees. “Given that this is a grey market, there is little concrete evidence to confirm the availability of bogus degrees and diplomas,” it added.
The study observed that in a handful of states, the factors underlying recruitment were closely related to political interests rather than well laid out recruitment policies. “Some other trends are more worrisome. In most of the states, the teacher recruitment process continues to be opaque (politically driven). The government does not seem to have a well laid out policy to estimate the number of teachers required and a process to move from there to recruitment” states the study. This trend is present in “educationally less developed” states, like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, as well as “relatively more developed states”, like Punjab”. Report adds that Indian schools are neither supported nor supervised, thereby affecting the effectiveness of the schooling system.
Latest Comment this is shocking revelation
The study research team observed that not one teacher they met sent her children or grandchildren to a government school. “Likewise, administrators avoid government schools for their children and grandchildren. Political leaders sent their children and grandchildren to high-end, English-medium, private unaided schools. Even after 20 years of reforms, teacher absence remains an important concern; teaching time is worryingly low; and, most importantly, low learning levels among children means they do not have a strong educational foundation for their future lives” stated the study.
Teachers told the study team that they needed powerful connections and paid bribes to get quick transfers or transfers of their choice. Teachers also used this formula to impede others’ transfers which might impede their interests. “In Odisha, for example, political leaders are formally represented on transfer committees. In Rajasthan, transfers were given as rewards to politically helpful teachers” the report stated. In states other than Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, adverse reassignments are used as threats against politically uncooperative teachers.
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Mr. Pralhad Jadhav
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