Patna, Bihar: Government-run higher education institutions in the state are facing an alarming shortage of teachers, particularly in the positions of readers and associate professors. According to the latest All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) report for the academic year 2018-19, the number of these faculty members was 4134. However, by the academic year 2021-22, this figure had dropped to 3691, indicating a consistent decline over the past few years.
Notably, there has been no direct recruitment for the positions of professor and associate professor since 1977, raising concerns about the aging faculty and the need for fresh talent. Despite some attempts to initiate recruitment processes last year, the education department has not finalized the rules for these appointments.
Traditional universities in the state are also grappling with a shortage, with approximately 4000 vacancies for assistant professors. This shortage is adversely affecting the quality of education in higher institutions, as the number of temporary teachers has tripled in the last five years, reaching 1703 in the academic year 2021-22, as per AISHE data.
Former Vice-Chancellor and educationist Prof. L.N. Ram emphasized that the lack of recruitment for professors and associate professors since 1974 has led to promotions being the primary mode of appointment, causing academic activities to be directly impacted. It is crucial for the state government to formulate a transparent and comprehensive strategy to address the teacher shortage crisis in higher education, or the quality of education will suffer significantly.
