A survey by the Pay Review Committee (PRC) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2008 had revealed that more than 51 per cent of teaching posts were lying vacant at the university level. Young and talented individuals are not opting for teaching. The PRC itself had suggested "attractive pay packages and better serving conditions" as a first step to fill vacant posts! The lack of good pay package is only one of the many reasons for the shortage of teachers. There is also the limited number of quality teachers available for recruitment. The problem of the non-availability of good and qualified teachers has aggravated with the UGC guidelines for more intake of students.
Most of the teachers who join the profession these days are intellectually and pedagogically challenged. Their learning ends after joining the profession. There are many reasons. The entirely 'utilitarian' position generally taken has affected the learning habits of the teachers. The academic aptitude of students too has undergone a dramatic change over the years. Most of them are interested in 'value-based' learning rather than going into the specificities of the subject they study. The pressures of a competitive environment (market -driven) and the absence of a learner-supportive family atmosphere need to be blamed for the decline. All these have resulted in chalta hei and jugad attitudes. The ethicality involved in a teaching position needs to be restored. There should be changes at individual and community levels. There are no shortcuts for more qualified teachers. We need to reform the way we look at learning and teaching processes. Media can play a major role in bringing changes in attitudes of the teachers and students.
