The Jharkhand High Court has issued a stern directive to address the pressing issue of teacher shortages in the state's schools. The Court ordered the Chairman of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) to provide a definitive timeline for initiating and completing the appointment of 26,000 school teachers in a “fair, transparent, and time-bound manner.”
This hearing follows a public interest litigation (PIL) filed last year, highlighting the severe teacher shortages in Jharkhand. Official data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) indicate that Jharkhand ranks as the worst among major states in terms of teacher availability. Shockingly, over 30% of government primary schools have only a single teacher.
The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, often referred to as the Right to Education (RTE) Act, mandates that every school must have at least two teachers and a teacher-student ratio of 1:30. Despite these requirements, most primary and upper-primary schools in Jharkhand fall woefully short. No new teacher appointments have been made since 2016, exacerbating the issue.
The PIL seeks adherence to the RTE Act, with High Court lawyer Piyushita Tudu representing the petitioners. In an affidavit submitted to the Court on 2 April 2025, the Jharkhand Government acknowledged the validity of the claims but avoided specifying a timeline for addressing the shortages.
While the recruitment of 26,000 teachers is deemed a step in the right direction, it is far from sufficient to ensure compliance with the RTE Act. According to UDISE data, Jharkhand would require approximately 60,000 additional teachers at the primary level alone to meet the Act's norms.
The matter remains under judicial scrutiny, with the next hearing scheduled for 16 April 2025.
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