Patna, May 12: A recent report by the NITI Aayog has revealed that Bihar is facing the highest shortage of teachers in the country. According to the report, there are currently 2.08 lakh elementary, 36,035 secondary, and 33,035 senior secondary teacher positions vacant in the state, totaling approximately 2,77,070 unfilled posts.
This report comes at a time when protests are taking place in Bihar demanding teacher recruitment. On May 8, candidates protesting for the BPSC TRE-4 notification faced police action, resulting in around 500 protesters being detained and four arrests made.
In addition to Bihar, states like Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh are also experiencing vacancies for elementary, secondary, and senior secondary teachers.
The NITI Aayog’s report, titled “School Education System in India,” was released on May 7 and provides a comprehensive overview of the school education system in India over the past decade.
Key insights from the report include:
1. Four out of ten students drop out before completing higher secondary education.
2. Electricity is unavailable in 1.19 lakh schools, and 14,505 schools lack drinking water.
3. The number of private unaided schools is increasing, with 38.8% of students enrolled in such institutions by 2024-25, up from 31.7% in 2014-15.
4. The quality of education in government schools has declined, with fewer students able to read grade-level textbooks.
5. The financial burden of secondary education is rising for families, with costs for books, uniforms, transportation, exam fees, and private tuition increasing significantly compared to primary education.
The report highlights the urgent need for addressing these issues to improve the educational landscape in Bihar and across India.