In urban India, women teachers have outnumbered men long back, with many big schools having just 5-10% male teachers.
It's Teachers' Day today. The gender disparity in the profession is fast changing. From 20 women teachers per 100 men teachers in the 1950s, the ratio has jumped to 90 women teachers per 100 men teachers in the country now, say ministry of human resources development figures.
In urban India, women teachers have outnumbered men long back, with many big schools having just 5-10% male teachers.
The major change in the gender ratio was seen after liberalisation. Between 1991 and 2014, female-to-male teacher ratio rose from 41 to 88 in primary schools and 44 to 90 in senior secondary schools, ministry figures say.
The reasons are not far to seek. Liberalisation improved the job market and pay packages drastically.
Women teachers say they prefer the profession as it is noble and convenient – it helps them balance family and work.
Anjana Prakash, principal of Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri, puts it in perspective. “The convenience of this job is the most attractive feature. With lesser working hours, compared to other jobs, women can manage their family and work.”
Prakash herself refused a job in the corporate sector to join the school 28 years back, so that she could take care of her son.
Bhavna Gupta, who holds an MBA degree, quit her job from an MNC a few years ago and now works for a school in Navi Mumbai. “I pursued my career in the corporate sector for many years, which paid me well. Then I realised that my kids needed more time and attention. Quitting was not so easy, but, at one point of time, you have to take tough decisions for the family."
Men teachers have a different point of view altogether. Rakesh Joshi, principal of APEEJAY School, Nerul, attributed the trend to “innate qualities” of women. “Women possess those skills required to be good teacher.
Patience, motherly affection, discipline and teaching go hand-in-hand with women. This is the reason why more and more women are taking up teaching as a career. And this profession now pays well also,” said Joshi.
Number of female teachers per 100 male teachers
Year
Primary schools
Senior secondary schools (9-10)
1950-51
20
19
1970-71
27
26
1990-91
41
45
2000-01
55
42
2010-11
76
65
*2013-14
88
96
(Source: MHRD, *provisional figures)
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