Guwahati, Sept 15: The Education Minister of Assam Ranoj Pegu said that 1,300 teaching posts in colleges and universities and more than 15,000 similar posts in schools are lying vacant in the state.
This alarming shortage of educators is a cause for concern, as it directly impacts the quality of education and the prospects of Assam’s students.
The statistics presented by Minister Pegu are indeed worrying. Of the 16,300 vacant teaching positions, 1,300 are in colleges and universities, while a staggering 15,000 are in schools. Furthermore, an additional 2,830 non-teaching positions in schools are yet to be filled. These numbers paint a grim picture of the state of education in Assam, with a severe lack of educators at all levels, from primary to higher secondary education.
Headteachers, principals, and vice-principals play pivotal roles in shaping the educational landscape, yet there are 1,686 vacant head-teacher positions, 320 vacant principal positions, and 499 vacant vice-principal positions in provincialized high schools and higher secondary schools. These leadership roles are essential for effective school management, and their vacancies can hamper the overall administration and quality of education.
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At the university level, Assam faces a shortage of teaching staff as well. There are 465 vacant teaching positions and 860 associate professorships available across the state’s 12 universities. Higher education institutions are crucial in nurturing future professionals and leaders, and the lack of faculty can hinder students’ academic growth and research opportunities.
One critical indicator of the state of education is the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER). Minister Pegu noted that while GER at the primary level in 2021-2022 was relatively healthy, there has been a decline in GER at the higher secondary level. This decline is concerning, as it indicates that students might be facing challenges accessing or continuing their education beyond the primary level due to various factors, including the shortage of educators.
