In a government school in rural Bihar, a single teacher manages five grades, teaches multiple subjects, handles administrative tasks, and often travels miles to reach the school. Her monthly pay: around Rs. 12,000.

Across India, millions of teachers like her are praised as “gurus,” revered in public discourse and government rhetoric. Yet the ground reality is starkly different: low pay, delayed salaries, overwhelming workload, and massive vacancies make teaching one of the most undervalued professions in practice.

RESPECT VS PAY: THE STARK NUMBERS

• Teacher Workforce: According to UDISE+ 2024-25, India’s teaching workforce has crossed 1 crore (10,122,420), growing 6.7% in a year. Women make up 54.2%, reflecting an increase in gender representation.
• Vacancies: Over 1 million teaching posts remain unfilled, mostly in rural and semi-urban schools. Some states, like Uttar Pradesh (3.2 lakh vacancies) and Bihar (2.2 lakh), face critical shortages.
• Single-Teacher Schools: Over 1 lakh schools operate with just one teacher, burdening them with multiple grades and subjects.
• Zero-Enrollment Schools: Certain rural schools report zero students, highlighting infrastructure and access issues.
• Despite this, societal respect is high India is among the countries that celebrate teachers culturally and socially but salaries lag far behind expectations.

TEACHER SALARIES: LOW AND UNEQUAL

• Permanent Government Teachers: Rs. 35,000- Rs.. 60,000/month depending on state, experience, and allowances. Benefits include pension, HRA, DA, and medical cover.
• Guest / Contract Teachers: Rs. 6,500- Rs.12,500/month in many states (Kerala, Karnataka, Bihar), often delayed for months or even a year.
• Private Schools in Metros: Despite annual fees of Rs. 2-5 lakh per child, teachers sometimes earn only 2-10% of the fees.
• State Variations: Delhi TGTs earn Rs. 9,300- Rs.. 34,800; PRTs are in a similar range. Karnataka recently raised guest teacher honoraria to Rs. 12,000- Rs.12,500, while associations demand Rs. 30,000 minimum.
• Even after the salary hike, it is nowhere near enough to meet basic needs. We feel undervalued despite being called ‘gurus’,” says a guest teacher in Karnataka.
• Delays in salary are common. For some, it has been months without pay,” says a Kerala guest teacher.

International Comparison: A Reality Check

THE CONSEQUENCES

1. Talent Drain: Graduates avoid teaching for better-paying opportunities.

2. Burnout & Overload: Single-teacher schools and contractual positions force teachers to handle excessive workload.

3. Inequality: Metro private schools vs rural public schools create a two-tier system.

4 . Low Morale: Delayed or inadequate pay erodes motivation despite societal respect.

POLICY MOVES,STEP BUT SMALL

States like Karnataka, Kerala, and Bihar have tried to improve pay and clear salary delays.

Recruitment drives aim to fill thousands of vacancies in Bihar TRE 2025 (27,910 posts) and West Bengal WBBPE 2025 (13,421 posts).

However, salary hikes remain modest relative to workload and cost of living, and many contractual teachers remain insecure.

India may love its teachers in words, in ceremonies, and in cultural reverence. But respect without reward is increasingly visible. Over 1 million vacancies, low pay, and mounting workload put the very future of quality education at risk. Fixing this requires serious investment, policy reform, and dignity in compensation. Only then can teachers truly be valued, not just celebrated.

– Ends