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India Today
07-08-2025
- Politics
- India Today
A nation without school teachers: Who will teach the next generation?
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 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 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 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 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 2,977 schools are run by just two 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 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 Odisha, over 6,000 retired teachers are being rehired as "guest faculty" due to a desperate shortage of trained 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 BROKEN PROMISES, AND BLEEDING CLASSROOMS India's crisis is mirrored shockingly in developed nations once seen as benchmarks for public STATES: BURNOUT REPLACING BOOKSTeacher turnover is rising again, with 7% of teachers quitting every year, up from 6% before the 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 East Baton Rouge, only 3 out of every 10 teachers stay beyond five years. Each loss costs the district up to $25, 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 CLASSROOMS WITHOUT TEACHERSThe country faces a shortfall of 4,000+ secondary teachers by half of Australian teachers are considering quitting within the next 12 in schools is rising, workloads are unsustainable, and many teachers work 48+ hours a week, unpaid beyond 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 DRIVING THIS GLOBAL EXODUS?Across borders and systems, the reasons echo Threads:Burnout: Teachers are overwhelmed with admin work, large class sizes, and emotional Pay: In many regions, teacher salaries have stagnated or fallen behind Growth: Career ladders are unclear or The profession is no longer aspirational. From parents to policymakers, teachers are treated like replaceable when they leave? They're not just quitting jobs. They're quitting futures of students, of schools, and of 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 can grade essays, but it can't read between the lines of a troubled student's lessons can inform, but they cannot no app can manage a classroom or mentor a 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 Promising cash and fast-tracked Recruiting from abroad (including India and the Philippines) to plug these are symptoms of denial, not solutions. The profession needs structural surgery, not sugar NEEDS TO CHANGE?Pay Teachers What They're WorthCompetitive salaries must reflect the critical role of Administrative LoadTeachers must teach—not spend hours buried in compliance Teaching Prestigious AgainPublic respect, media representation, and growth opportunities Mental HealthInstitutional mechanisms for stress, trauma, and burnout must be built and Train RegularlyNo reform can work if there's no one left to implement 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 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 question now isn't just "Where are all the good teachers going?" It's, "What will we do to bring them back?"- Ends
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Houston ISD Superintendent's 5-year contract released following Board of Managers approval on Thursday
The Brief FOX 26 is learning new information regarding the amended contract for Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles FOX 26 obtained the contract via e-mail prior to the district's stated deadline of 5 p.m. Friday. According to the amended contract, Mike Miles will earn a new annual base salary of $462,000, which is an $82,000 increase in pay from his previous base salary. HOUSTON - We're learning more information regarding a 5-year contract that was approved for Superintendent Mike Miles by the Houston Independent School District Board of Managers on Thursday night. According to the contract, which was received around 4:30 p.m. by e-mail, Miles' new annual base salary will be set at $462,000, which is an $82,000 increase in pay from his base salary of $380,000 that was set on June 1, 2023. On top of the increase, the district will pay or reimburse the Superintendent for reasonable reimbursable expenses as determined and incurred by the Superintendent in the continuing performance of the Superintendent's duties under the contract, from funds budgeted for that purpose by the board. The contract states, "the district agrees to pay the reasonable actual and incidental costs incurred by the Superintendent for travel; such costs may include, but are not limited to, airline tickets, hotels and accommodations, meals, rental car, and other expenses incurred in the performance of the business of the district." According to the contract, Miles will also have access to a staff member, as reasonably available, to drive his vehicle or a District vehicle when the Superintendent determines it is necessary to the performance of his duties. The Superintendent may be reimbursed for travel in his car outside of the District at the District's approved reimbursement rate for travel outside of the District. Miles will also be eligible for incentive pay called "Performance Incentive Pay." Click here to view the full entire contract or you can view below. Click to open this PDF in a new window. The other side FOX 26 reached out to Jackie Anderson, President of Houston Federation of Teachers Local 2415, for reaction to the new contract. She said, "The HFT foresaw that Mr. Miles' contract would be granted when the most outspoken members of the BOM were removed from the board. They were "finally" no longer complicit. Miles has been given a nearly 100k raise to continue decimating HISD. He and the TEA will not leave until there is nothing left. Additionally, hundreds of teachers in HISD were terminated because they did not met certification requirements. Miles is not certified and he gets a raise. It's definitely not about children. Follow the money." The Source Information from Mike Miles contract obtained by FOX 26 and a statement from Jackie Anderson, President of Houston Federation of Teachers Local 2415.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Houston ISD Board of Managers approve 5-year contract for Superintendent Mike Miles
The Brief Current Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles has a new contract following a meeting on Thursday evening. The contract is for five years, according to a statement from Houston ISD Board of Managers President Ric Campo. The exact terms of the contract have not yet been released. HOUSTON - The Houston Independent School District Board of Managers have approved a five-year contract for current Superintendent Mike Miles. What they're saying According to a statement from HISD Board of Managers President Ric Campo, "Today, the HISD Board of Managers approved a new contract for Superintendent Mike Miles. With the recent release of STAAR exam results, it is clear that under his leadership, our schools and students are making extraordinary academic progress. The five-year term of the contract ensures that Houston ISD can continue its transformation for the duration of the state intervention, while allowing for continuity and a smooth transition when the District returns to local control. The new contract also maintains rigorous evaluation criteria and compensation that aligns the HISD superintendent position with comparable school districts in Texas. The HISD Board is proud of the incredible success of HISD students, and with Superintendent Miles' ongoing leadership, we look forward to continued progress." The contract comes after Miles was selected by Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath back in 2023. Earlier this month, the Texas Education Agency announced they would continue their intervention of HISD until at least June 1, 2027. Commissioner Mike Morath was required to decide on the possible extension on the two-year anniversary of their intervention. Morath made the decision to extend the Board of Managers' authority until June 1, 2027. What we don't know The full terms of Miles' contract are not yet known as his contract will be posted to the district's website by 5 p.m. on Friday. The Source Information from Houston ISD Board of Managers President Ric Campo and previous FOX 26 reporting.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Houston ISD Faces Extended TEA Control Until 2027, New Board Appointed
(Texas Scorecard) – Houston Independent School District will remain under the control of the Texas Education Agency through at least June 1, 2027. Alongside the extended timeline, TEA also announced the replacement of four members of the state-appointed Board of Managers. TEA took control of Houston ISD in 2023 after years of chronic student underperformance and governance failures. The state replaced the elected school board, appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, and implemented a series of aggressive reforms. Since the takeover, Houston ISD has reduced the number of D- and F-rated campuses from 121 in 2023 to 41 in 2024, according to preliminary reporting. Despite progress, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath emphasized the need for continued state involvement to ensure long-term improvement. 'Houston ISD has always been a district with some of the highest performing schools in the country, but it was also a district that allowed some of its schools to fail students for over a decade,' Morath said. Ultimately, two years has not been enough time to fix district systems that were broken for decades. The extension of this intervention will allow the district to build on its progress and achieve lasting success for students once the board transitions back to elected leadership. To conclude the intervention, Houston ISD must eliminate all multi-year failing campuses, fully comply with state and federal special education laws, and demonstrate effective board governance. Earlier this year, Houston ISD spent hundreds of millions of dollars without the required board approval. Community reactions remain divided. Parent and advocacy groups praised the focus on student achievement, while critics have questioned the transparency of the appointment process and urged greater community input. The new Houston ISD Board appointees are: Edgar Colón: Legal expert and political science lecturer Lauren Gore: Harvard Law graduate and general partner at LDR Growth Partners Marty Goossen: Retired vice chairman of J.P. Morgan Private Bank Marcos Rosales: Trial lawyer at Beck Redden LLP Brina Morales, director of communications for the Greater Houston Partnership, celebrated the TEA extension, writing, 'Commissioner Morath is right to extend the period of reform to ensure these improvements take hold long-term, significantly impacting generations of students.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Education Agency extends Houston school district takeover through 2027
The state takeover of the Houston Independent School District will continue for two more years, the Texas Education Agency announced Monday. Education Commissioner Mike Morath had until June 1 to decide next steps for the state's largest school district, whose former superintendent and elected school board members were ousted and replaced in 2023 due to years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus and allegations of leadership misconduct. Since then, state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles has led the district, a controversial figure in Houston who has ushered improvements on state exams while struggling to win over community support. Still, Morath decided to extend the intervention until June 1, 2027, applauding the district for its improvements but citing the need for more progress. That progress, he said, will have to include no school campuses with failing accountability scores across multiple years, compliance with special education requirements and improved school board governance. Morath on Monday also announced the appointment of four new school board members, replacing four he selected in 2023. 'With the changes made in the last two years, Houston ISD is well on its way to being a district where all of its schools provide students with the educational opportunities that will allow them to access the American Dream,' the commissioner said in a statement. 'Ultimately, two years has not been enough time to fix district systems that were broken for decades. The extension of this intervention will allow the district to build on its progress and achieve lasting success for students once the board transitions back to elected leadership.' The Houston Chronicle first reported the extension of the takeover. Under Miles' leadership, the district has experienced extraordinary staff turnover and plummeting student enrollment. Miles, who inherited a district that for years ran an overall well-performing school system, has faced accusations of shepherding a militaristic educational environment where teachers have limited freedom to teach in ways they see fit and children are exhausted and disengaged from learning. Miles, on the other hand, has touted student improvement on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test, and progress in the district's A-F accountability ratings as proof that his model is effective, an achievement that Morath and state lawmakers have publicly commended. During the November election, Houston voters shot down a plan to approve $4.4 billion in academic and infrastructure improvements for the school district — the largest proposal of its kind in state history — which many saw as a litmus test for Miles' support. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
