A nation without school teachers: Who will teach the next generation?

India Today

3 days ago

In a school in Bihar, the bell rings sharp at 9 a.m. But the classroom is silent. There are no teachers none at all. Just rows of confused children sitting in uniform, waiting. In the heart of Bihar, as of August 2025, around 29 schools report zero teachers, while nearly 354 schools have just one, and 2,977 schools manage with only two, as per a directive from the Additional Chief Secretary aiming to ensure a bare minimum staff of three teachers per primary school.advertisementAlarmingly, 14,213 schools in the state exceed a pupilteacher ratio (PTR) of 40:1, far above the NEP2020 ideal of 30:1 (and 25:1 in disadvantaged areas)This isn't an isolated glitch , it's the new normal.It's not a lack of students. It's not even always a lack of money. It's something far more dangerous: a global shortage of people willing to teach.INDIA'S BROKEN PIPELINE: POSTS SANCTIONED, BUT SEATS STILL EMPTYDespite grand reforms like the National Education Policy (NEP 2020), India is facing a crippling shortage of qualified teachers—particularly in rural and government schools.The Ground Reality:14,213 schools in Bihar have a pupil–teacher ratio (PTR) higher than the legal limit of 40:1.29 schools in the state have no teacher at all.Nearly 2,977 schools are run by just two teachers.In states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, recruitment delays stretch over months, often years. Exams are held, results are delayed, and appointments are frozen by legal battles or lack of political will.Anand Kumar, Founder of Super 30 once commented on rediff saying 'There is no substitute for teachers Very few people want to become teachers, though just everyone in the society wants the best teacher for his/her wards. India has huge vacancies just anyone is made a teacher, which is affecting the quality.'THE FALLOUT:In West Bengal, 25,753 teachers were sacked in a recruitment scam scandal, leading to violent protests and legal chaos. Many say they were unfairly dismissed, collateral damage in a political mess.In Odisha, over 6,000 retired teachers are being rehired as "guest faculty" due to a desperate shortage of trained staff.Parents are left fending for their children's education. Students, especially in rural areas, rely increasingly on poorly trained contractual teachers or self-study. The ideal of equitable education is cracking at the foundation.BURNOUT, BROKEN PROMISES, AND BLEEDING CLASSROOMS
India's crisis is mirrored shockingly in developed nations once seen as benchmarks for public education.UNITED STATES: BURNOUT REPLACING BOOKSTeacher turnover is rising again, with 7% of teachers quitting every year, up from 6% before the pandemic.In Houston ISD, over 2,300 teachers quit between June 2024 and June 2025, citing a toxic mix of micromanagement, lack of autonomy, and overwhelming pressure to perform.In East Baton Rouge, only 3 out of every 10 teachers stay beyond five years. Each loss costs the district up to $25,000.The causes are clear: low pay, unsafe environments (especially post-school shootings), excessive testing, and chronic disrespect for the profession. The American dream of shaping minds is now a path many educators are sprinting away from.AUSTRALIA: CLASSROOMS WITHOUT TEACHERSThe country faces a shortfall of 4,000+ secondary teachers by 2025.Nearly half of Australian teachers are considering quitting within the next 12 months.Violence in schools is rising, workloads are unsustainable, and many teachers work 48+ hours a week, unpaid beyond the classroom.The government is scrambling. They've introduced $160 million in scholarships for aspiring teachers. But no scholarship can replace respect, dignity, or work-life balance. The profession is losing not just workers—but its soul.WHAT'S DRIVING THIS GLOBAL EXODUS?Across borders and systems, the reasons echo eerily.Common Threads:Burnout: Teachers are overwhelmed with admin work, large class sizes, and emotional labor.Poor Pay: In many regions, teacher salaries have stagnated or fallen behind inflation.No Growth: Career ladders are unclear or non-existent.Disrespect: The profession is no longer aspirational. From parents to policymakers, teachers are treated like replaceable cogs.And when they leave? They're not just quitting jobs. They're quitting futures of students, of schools, and of society.EDTECH AND AI: HELP OR HINDRANCE?In India and globally, edtech was touted as a savior. Platforms like Byju's, Coursera, and Khan Academy promised to "democratize education". But here's the problem: tech can supplement a teacher it cannot replace one.AI can grade essays, but it can't read between the lines of a troubled student's silence.Pre-recorded lessons can inform, but they cannot inspire.And no app can manage a classroom or mentor a child.When real teachers vanish, the human core of education goes with them.
When real teachers vanish, the human core of education goes with them.
TEMPORARY FIXES, LONG-TERM DAMAGEGovernments are rushing to fill gaps with band-aids:India: Rehiring retirees, guest teachers, and untrained para-staff.Australia: Promising cash and fast-tracked certifications.US: Recruiting from abroad (including India and the Philippines) to plug holes.But these are symptoms of denial, not solutions. The profession needs structural surgery, not sugar pills.WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE?Pay Teachers What They're WorthCompetitive salaries must reflect the critical role of educators.Reduce Administrative LoadTeachers must teach—not spend hours buried in compliance paperwork.Make Teaching Prestigious AgainPublic respect, media representation, and growth opportunities matter.Protect Mental HealthInstitutional mechanisms for stress, trauma, and burnout must be built in.Hire and Train RegularlyNo reform can work if there's no one left to implement it.The crisis in teaching isn't just about vacant posts or crumbling salaries it's about a deep, systemic neglect of the very people tasked with shaping the minds of the future. When teachers feel undervalued, overworked, and invisible, the classroom becomes a hollow space.This is not merely an education issue. It's a social emergency. A country that sidelines its teachers cannot expect its students to thrive. If the nation continues to ignore the warning signs burnout, mass resignations, and vanishing respect we won't just have a shortage of teachers; we'll have a shortage of hope.The question now isn't just "Where are all the good teachers going?" It's, "What will we do to bring them back?"- Ends