The committee chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh strongly opposed hiring teachers on a contractual basis
NEW DELHI — The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, chaired by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, has called on the government to take urgent steps to strengthen India’s teacher education system.
In a report presented on Tuesday, the panel flagged critical gaps in teacher recruitment, policy implementation, and institutional capacity. Chief among its recommendations is the immediate filling of nearly 10 lakh vacant teaching posts across the country — including in state-run schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. The shortage, it warned, is severely affecting learning outcomes, particularly in government schools.
The committee strongly opposed hiring teachers on a contractual basis, noting that it undermines the constitutional provisions of reservation for SC, ST, and OBC communities in government jobs. “Appointments on contractual basis compromise both job security and social justice,” the report stated.
On policy matters, it urged a comprehensive revision of the draft NCTE Regulations 2025, criticising the Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) for fostering “hyperspecialisation and segmentation” in teacher training. Instead, it recommended a holistic and inclusive approach.
In a significant move, the committee also suggested the continuation of the Bachelor in Elementary Education (B.El.Ed) programme, describing it as a pioneering course that has produced high-quality teachers for more than three decades. The programme, taught at the university level, had faced uncertainty due to recent policy changes.
Further, the committee expressed concern over the lack of recruitment in the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), which has reportedly not hired permanent staff since 2019. It urged the government to resume appointments to strengthen the regulatory body.
Lastly, the report emphasised the need to expand and empower District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) even as the ITEP framework becomes mainstream, to ensure capacity building at the grassroots level.
The recommendations come at a time when India is grappling with a teacher shortage and debates over the future of teacher education programmes under the National Education Policy.
