Despite the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) recently announcing the results of its single largest recruitment drive, the persistent challenge of securing qualified teachers for Bihar’s schools continues unabated, a predicament that has endured for over a decade.
With just 122,324 candidates successfully qualifying out of a staggering 1.70 lakh teaching vacancies, this outcome underscores the ongoing difficulty in finding qualified educators, particularly for secondary and higher secondary schools. In the higher secondary category, 23,701 candidates secured positions out of 57,602 openings, while in the secondary sector, 26,204 candidates passed for 32,916 available positions. In the primary sector, which had the highest number of vacancies, only 72,419 candidates met the criteria for 79,943 positions, after excluding B.Ed degree holders, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
The overall pass rate stands at 72%, which leaves a substantial 48,137 positions unfilled. These vacancies are expected to be incorporated into the subsequent recruitment cycle. Notably, the number of applicants for higher secondary positions was insufficient at around 37,000, a concerning situation for a state producing a large number of graduates and post-graduates annually, despite significant unemployment.
Of particular concern is the lack of qualified teachers interested in teaching at the higher secondary level, with only 41% of positions filled despite relatively low cutoffs. The results also exhibit substantial disparities. While English positions saw a 66% fill rate, Hindi positions were only 17% occupied. In key science subjects like Physics and Chemistry, a mere 22% of positions were filled. Most subjects have secured only approximately 30% of the necessary teaching staff, or even less.
This issue is not new, as the last teachers’ eligibility test (TET) for secondary teachers conducted in 2011 revealed the quality of teacher aspirants in Bihar. For instance, in the subject of Physics, just three trained teachers and five untrained teachers qualified in 2011. The problem has only intensified as secondary schools were upgraded to higher secondary status, despite the government’s efforts to address the situation in 2013. The crisis of obtaining qualified teachers persisted, even as the student enrollment and pass rates remained high.
This challenge first gained serious attention in 2017 following dismal Bihar board results. The then Chief Secretary, Anjani Kumar Singh, acknowledged the difficulty of finding qualified teachers in English, mathematics, and science subjects. Unfortunately, this difficulty persists to this day.
The issue was underscored in August 2022 when a mere 3.22% of teachers qualified for the position of headmasters in government schools in an exam conducted by the BPSC. Out of 6,421 vacancies, only 421 candidates qualified, leaving a substantial 97% of the posts unfilled. Notably, the minimum score required for qualification varied for different categories.
This situation serves as a stark wake-up call for the government, as it indicates a declining interest in teaching as a career option among talented youth in Bihar. This trend is not only alarming but also raises concerns about the state’s entire education system. Bihar, a state with a significant number of graduates, appears to have a dearth of teaching enthusiasts. The original teaching cadre must be revived to restore faith in the education system, or else, successive exams will yield no positive results.
The evolving scenario is a cause for concern and could impact various other employment sectors in the years to come, as it is becoming evident that the teaching profession no longer attracts the youth who increasingly consider sub-inspector or clerical government roles as more appealing alternatives to teaching. Bihar boasts a wealth of talented students, but the problem lies in attracting and retaining them. It is imperative to reinvigorate the teaching profession and rebuild trust in the system. Otherwise, the pursuit of examinations will continue to yield unsatisfactory results.
