Sign in Subscribe
Teachers

Maharashtra's Government and Aided Colleges Struggle with 38% Teacher Shortfall

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Maharashtra's government and government-aided colleges are facing a severe shortage of teachers, with a staggering 38% of the 31,185 sanctioned teaching posts remaining vacant as of December 31, 2024. The lack of permanent teachers is hindering the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), particularly in aided colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Colleges are struggling to meet the criteria set by the NEP, which has introduced skill-based and practical subjects requiring specialized instructors.

Key Takeaways:

  • As of December 31, 2024, 11,918 posts of lecturers and assistant professors in 2,000 government-aided colleges were vacant, making up 38% of the total sanctioned posts.
  • The University of Mumbai's aided colleges have 2,127 vacancies, a staggering 41% of the total sanctioned posts.
  • Colleges are hiring teachers on a clock-hour basis, but most don't continue beyond six months due to low remuneration at government-approved rates.
  • The shortage of teachers began during the Covid pandemic, which led to a recruitment freeze.
  • In 2018, 3,580 posts for assistant professors were approved, but only 1,492 were filled before the pause in May 2020.
  • In 2021, another 2,088 posts were sanctioned, but recruitment remained sluggish.
  • The new policy introduced skill-based and practical subjects, requiring a greater number of teaching hours and specialized instructors.
  • 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).
  • In July, the state government approved recruitment for over 7,900 teaching posts and more than 2,200 non-teaching posts across universities and government-aided colleges, but no advertisements have been published so far.
  • Colleges are operating with contractual staff, making it challenging to implement the NEP's multidisciplinary education approach.

Statistics:

  • 11,918 teaching posts were vacant as of December 31, 2024, making up 38% of the total sanctioned posts.
  • 2,127 vacancies exist in aided colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai, a staggering 41% of the total sanctioned posts.
  • 31,185 teaching posts were sanctioned in over 2,000 aided colleges across the state.
  • 3,580 posts for assistant professors were approved in 2018.
  • 1,492 posts for assistant professors were filled before the pause in May 2020.
  • 2,088 posts were sanctioned in 2021, but recruitment remained sluggish.
  • 7,900 teaching posts and more than 2,200 non-teaching posts were approved for recruitment in July.

Sources:

  • HT Mumbai
  • RTI activist Abhay Kolhatkar
  • National Education Policy (NEP)
  • University Grants Commission (UGC)
  • National Academic Accreditation Council (NAAC)
  • Maharashtra government

Read more