Sign in Subscribe
College faculty

Maharashtra's Aided Colleges Struggle with 38% Shortfall in Teachers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Maharashtra's government and government-aided colleges are grappling with a severe shortage of teachers, leaving them unable to implement the requirements of the National Education Policy (NEP). According to data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 11,918 posts of lecturers and assistant professors in 2,000 government-aided colleges were vacant as of December 31, 2024. This staggering 38% shortfall in teachers has left colleges struggling to meet the bar set by the NEP, with some colleges even hiring teachers on a clock-hour basis due to the lack of permanent staff.

Key Takeaways:

  • The shortage of 11,918 teachers in 2,000 government-aided colleges across Maharashtra is a 38% shortfall, according to data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
  • The University of Mumbai has 2,127 vacancies, a staggering 41% of the total positions, in its affiliated colleges.
  • Colleges are finding it difficult to meet the requirements of the National Education Policy (NEP) due to the lack of permanent teachers, with many hiring teachers on a clock-hour basis.
  • The shortage began during the Covid pandemic, when the government ordered a recruitment freeze in 2020, and has worsened since the NEP was rolled out in 2023-24.
  • The University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all states to fill at least 80% of sanctioned posts to maintain their accreditation grades under the National Academic Accreditation Council (NAAC).
  • Professor Kushal Mude, national convenor of the All India NET and SET Teachers' Organisation, has urged the government to recruit assistant professors in mission mode to address the shortage.
  • The shortage affects not only government-aided colleges but also private colleges, with many having no full-time teachers.

Statistics:

  • 11,918: The total number of vacant posts of lecturers and assistant professors in 2,000 government-aided colleges as of December 31, 2024.
  • 38%: The percentage shortfall of teachers in government-aided colleges across Maharashtra.
  • 2,127: The number of vacancies in the University of Mumbai's affiliated colleges.
  • 41%: The percentage of total positions that are vacant in the University of Mumbai's affiliated colleges.
  • 31,185: The number of sanctioned teaching posts in over 2,000 aided colleges across the state.
  • 3,580: The number of approved posts for assistant professors in 2018, of which only 1,492 were filled before the recruitment freeze in May 2020.
  • 80%: The percentage of sanctioned posts that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed all states to fill to maintain their accreditation grades under the National Academic Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Sources:

  • "Mumbai colleges struggle with 38% shortfall in teachers," HT Pune, Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from HT Pune.
  • Data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
  • Information sourced from the higher education department by RTI activist Abhay Kolhatkar.
  • Interview with Professor Kushal Mude, national convenor of the All India NET and SET Teachers' Organisation.

Read more