Teacher shortage persists in central schools with over 13,700 vacancies

A significant shortage of teachers persists across central government-run schools, with more than 13,700 posts currently vacant in Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the Ministry of Education informed Parliament.

Responding to a written question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary said 8,618 teaching positions remain unfilled in Kendriya Vidyalayas, while 5,083 vacancies exist in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, taking the total to 13,701.

The minister attributed the vacancies to multiple factors, including the opening of new schools; retirements; resignations; promotions; inter-departmental transfers; and upgradation of institutions, which continue to create new positions.

“Filling up of vacancies is a continuous process, and efforts are made to fill up the vacancies as per the provisions of the relevant recruitment rules,” Chaudhary told the House.

To manage the shortfall, both school systems have been appointing teachers on a contractual basis to maintain continuity in classroom teaching while permanent recruitment is underway.

“Efforts are made to recruit regular teachers at the earliest so that the interest of students does not suffer,” Chaudhary said, adding that the track record of KVs and JNVs in public examinations “clearly demonstrates that academic standards and students’ performance are duly maintained.”