INDIA
Systemic gender disparities in teacher profile plague school education in the country with northern India being the worst hit.
Systemic gender disparities in teacher profile plague school education in the country with northern India being the worst hit. This has led to the fairer sex being a minority in the classroom especially in the Hindi heartland.
The disparity is even as the number of female teacher enrolment has registered a growth over the years with government laying ascent on induction of female teachers. The gap between male and female teachers comes in the backdrop of teaching profession being widely christened as ‘the vocation’ for women due to their nurturing capabilities (remember ‘mother the first teacher’).
According to the latest report by District Information System for Education (DISE) (2010-11), the share of women in teaching is not even half of the total teachers’ population. The ratio is not going to alter unless Hindi heartland states make tangible progress in hiring women teachers.
These are also the states where patriarchy still rules the roost. However, what remains intriguing is that more number of professionally trained regular teachers are working in private schools than government-aided schools. This could perhaps be due to fundamental shifts in the education job market.
India has 44.83% of female teachers at school level as per DISE 2010-11. Schools in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have lower ratio of female teachers according to DISE report 2010-11.
States like Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh have 29.22, 30.15, 38.53 and 40.43% of female teachers in schools respectively.
Citing historical and cultural factor as prime reasons behind low share of female teachers in India, a professor (who did not wish to be identified) at Department of Education, University of Delhi said, “This is a very region-specific phenomenon and it varies from state to state and urban to rural areas. States which have reported less percentage of female teachers usually have never encouraged the female counterparts to move out and work.”
Pointing the lack of proper infrastructure facilities as one of the reasons behind such dismal situation in Hindi heartland states, HN Sahay, director operations at Smile Foundation India, an education focused non-governmental organisation said, “In these areas, the share of female teachers is disproportionately low as there is a hesitation from the female side to teach in areas where provision for basic necessities like electricity and transport facilities are not available.”
A piqued Dr Sunita Chugh, assistant professor at the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), said, “If these states have appointed male teachers, it is natural that the teachers will continue to teach till their respective term expires.”
Citing the rule book, she proclaimed, “One needs to lay stress on the fact that in fresh appointments relaxation should be given to the female candidates. According to the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), for appointment of every two teachers at the primary level, one has to be female.”
The silver lining, however, is that Goa, Chandigarh, Delhi and Kerala have more number of female teachers. Chandigarh has 82.57% of female teachers followed by Goa at 77.41% and Kerala at 74.05%.
In the year 2009-10, the government schools in India had 85.27% of professionally trained regular teachers; the figure has ebbed to 82.78% in 2010-11.
On the contrary, the private schools have seen a rise in the percentage of professionally qualified regular teachers. In 2009-10, 84.56% of teachers were professionally trained, the latest figure of 2010-11 stood at 84.60%.
Overall, at the national level, the share of professionally trained regular teachers in the year 2010-11 has declined. In 2009-10, 81.01% of regular teachers in India were professionally trained; the figure fell to 78.66% in 2010-11 respectively.
Highlighting the fallacies in government policies, the professor at Faculty of Education lamented, “In order to make the school education model more cost effective, the government laid stress on appointing 'para' teachers rather than professionally trained ones as the salary of a trained teacher is approximately six times more than a para teacher.”
Stressing the importance of hiring professionally trained teachers in the profession, Dr Sahay at Smile Foundation said, “It is absolutely necessary that a teacher should be professionally qualified in order to teach in an effective and planned manner. Teacher’s training helps a teacher to understand the classroom issues more carefully and methodically.”
Putting the gender debate in perspective, Dr Chugh at NUEPA stressed that merely trumpeting the cause of female empowerment won’t help the cause of education. She recommended, “At the primary level, female teachers should be there as they can treat the kids more patiently but at the upper level if a female teacher is not professionally competitive, then one should never compromise on the quality just for the sake of promoting female teachers.”
Prayagraj sees unprecedented crowds, traffic jams leave devotees without food, water amid Mahakumbh
Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row: CBI arrests four people in ghee adulteration case
JEE Mains 2025 Result: NTA JEE Session 1 result to be declared on..., know how to download scorecard
Donald Trump reveals BIG plan, says committed to 'buy and own' Gaza, allow others to...
Radhika Merchant dances her heart out at her friend's wedding to 'Anarkali Disco Chali', Watch
Did Lionel Messi’s son Thiago score 11 goals in single match for Inter Miami? Here's the truth
India vs England: Rohit Sharma goes past Chris Gayle in all-time ODI list led by Shahid Afridi
Ed Sheeran BREAKS silence after Bengaluru cops stop his street performance: 'It wasn't just...'
India gains, Pakistan struggles: Forex reserves rise to Rs 55300044 crore, Pak's decline continues
IND vs ENG: Rohit Sharma returns to form before Champions Trophy, slams 32nd ODI century vs England
'Mummy daantegi...': Little boy screams as tiger pulls his shirt at zoo, WATCH viral video
Manipur CM N Biren resigns nearly two years after ethnic violence in state
Viral Video: Women travel in train toilet to Maha Kumbh, internet says "Is this a joke?
Vicky Jain's 'bizarre' comment leaves wife Ankita fuming with anger, netizens declare him 'red flag'
Bengaluru cops stop Ed Sheeran's street performance, video goes viral - Watch
Viral video: Lion spotted on moving jeep? Here’s the truth
YouTuber Gaurav Taneja reveals he was 'shocked' over his wife's decision to...
Teddy Day 2025: Date, history and significance of the fourth day of Valentine’s week
'Sugar is the biggest toxin...': Naga Chaitanya calls sugar more toxic than alcohol and tobacco
‘Over for Blinkit, Zepto’, this startup claims ‘delivering humans’ in 10 minutes, shocks netizens
Pratik Gandhi on his struggles, managing job with acting: 'Chaar gante sona luxury tha' | Exclusive
Why did Kumar Vishwas' wife cry after Manish Sisodia lost Delhi Elections: 'Not always power...'
'Fast and Furious' cars collision creates a Rohit Shetty scene on Indian road, viral video
'Go to the room, cry...': Salman Khan's wisdom on love, breakup is all you need this Valentine's Day
Parvesh Verma, BJP leader who defeated Arvind Kejriwal, makes BIG claim, says, 'we have to do...'
Sumona Chakravarti on joining Kapil Sharma show: 'Went from Ram Kapoor's sister to...'
Is Elon Musk still interested in buying TikTok? Tesla CEO provides BIG update, claims...
Groom's mother and mama join hands to burn the dance floor down, viral video sets internet on fire
What is historic 'Blue Gold', costlier than real gold?
Salman Khan opens up about his daddy issues with Salim Khan: 'How can he be right all the time...'
Powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake jolts Caribbean, tsunami advisory issued
Salman Khan supports Sooaj Barjatya, pens note on his OTT debut, calls his show Bada Naam Karenge...
Little girl's energetic dance to 'London Thumakda' leaves netizens in awe, WATCH viral video
Meet man who left IIT, later earned Rs 286 crore in just 20 weeks by...
Viral Video: Sadhus playing cricket at Mahakumbh mela wins hearts online, watch
Happy Chocolate Day 2025: Wishes, WhatsApp messages, quotes to share with your partner on February 9
Meet woman, who plays key role in Rs 33661 crore company, daughter of billionaire
Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna didn't talk to each other on the Chhaava sets because...
Nita Ambani, Nick Jonas share candid moments at Siddharth Chopra's wedding, WATCH viral video
UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2025 registration date extended by 7 days; apply at upsc.gov.in
'Fight for progress of Delhi will continue', says LoP Rahul Gandhi after Congress's Delhi debacle