Dr. Satyavan Saurabh:
More than 12,000 teaching posts are vacant in Haryana’s government schools, seriously affecting the quality of education. In districts like Nuh, one teacher is handling more than 100 students. The government’s slow recruitment process and uneven teacher postings are worsening the situation. According to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, every child has the right to equal and quality education. To fulfill this goal, the government must act quickly, transparently, and effectively to ensure that every classroom has a teacher and every child’s life is brightened by knowledge.
Haryana’s education system is in deep crisis. The shortage of teachers has not only weakened the quality of education but also raised questions about the future of lakhs of children. Over 12,000 teacher posts are lying vacant, a number that represents not just administrative failure but the broken hopes of students who depend on these schools for their future. In several districts, one teacher is teaching more than 100 children, a situation that is alarming for a state known for progress in industry, sports, and agriculture.
The government speaks of achieving the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, yet even the blackboards in many schools remain blank. Teachers are the foundation of education, shaping children’s personalities and guiding them toward responsible citizenship. When schools have no teachers, students lose motivation, learning ability, and confidence.
Official data reveals that teacher recruitment in many departments has been stagnant for years. Positions are advertised repeatedly, but either the process is delayed or appointments are not made. Thousands of schools are managed by single teachers or rely on “guest teachers,” a system that was meant to be temporary but has now become permanent. This harms the quality of education.
The NEP 2020 recommends that one teacher should not teach more than 30-35 students to ensure personal attention and meaningful learning. But in Nuh, Palwal, and Mahendragarh, this ratio has reached 1:100. This is not just an educational issue but also one of social inequality. The children of poor families depend solely on government schools, and when these schools collapse, so does their future.
In 2024, the state government announced recruitment for 14,295 posts. But looking at the pace of work, it seems unlikely this target will be achieved even by the end of 2025. The recruitment process is stuck in court cases, reservation disputes, and slow departmental procedures. Meanwhile, retiring teachers are not being replaced, increasing the number of vacancies.
In many rural schools, one teacher teaches all subjects—Hindi, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Naturally, the quality of learning suffers. Education is not just about passing exams; it is about developing the ability to think, reason, and contribute to society. Under these conditions, children receive formality, not education.
Teachers are not mere employees. They are nation builders, the soul of schools, and the backbone of society. When there are no teachers, the buildings remain but the spirit of education dies. Parents, losing hope in government schools, are turning to private institutions, but these are unaffordable for many. In villages, government schools are the only hope.
The government often claims that recruitment will be completed soon, but ground reality tells a different story. Files gather dust in offices while classrooms remain empty. To end this crisis, words must turn into action.
First, every school must have enough teachers for all subjects. Vacant positions should be filled through permanent recruitment. Second, the transfer system should be made transparent so that teachers are distributed equally across schools. Third, regular training programs should be held to equip teachers with new teaching methods and modern learning tools.
Education should be seen as an investment, not an expense. Without quality education, the future of the state—and the country—is at risk. Haryana has achieved much in various fields, but the neglect of education is staining its image.
Every unfilled teacher post represents hundreds of lost dreams. A teacher is not just a person who teaches lessons, but someone who shapes minds and builds futures. Haryana must act now. Buildings, books, and smart classrooms mean nothing without teachers.
Empty classrooms are not just an educational failure but a moral one. If the government does not act swiftly, this teacher crisis will turn into a social tragedy. The state must ensure a transparent, fair, and time-bound recruitment process and restore dignity to the teaching profession.
Only then will the blackboards of Haryana’s schools reflect knowledge, not neglect.
(Note: Dr. Satyavan Saurabh
Poet, freelance journalist, and columnist
All India Radio and TV panelist
333, Fairy Garden, Kaushalya Bhawan, Barwa (Siwani), Bhiwani, Haryana – 127045)
