Unqualified people should not be appointed as teachers

The decline of the education sector can darken the future of an entire country. It was only after the arrival of the British that education in India became more accessible to people from all sections of society. Before that, the number of schools was very limited. Schools run under the supervision of kings and others often did not allow people from lower sections of society to enter. Informal methods of education were more common, and even there, people from lower sections were often excluded. If everyone had been given the opportunity to receive quality education from ancient times, India's strength and achievements could have been many times greater than they are today.

Even when schools began to be established under the leadership of the British, missionaries and various social and community organisations, the standard of education in them was high. This was largely due to the dedicated service of highly knowledgeable teachers. Today, one of the major reasons for the declining standards of both government and private educational institutions is the lack of knowledge, dedication and qualifications among some teachers. It is in this context that the recent Supreme Court order imposing strict restrictions on the appointment of unqualified teachers becomes significant. While hearing a case related to teacher appointments in Assam and other states, the Supreme Court directed that no person who does not meet the prescribed standards should be appointed to a teaching post. The direction applies to educational institutions across the country.

In private educational institutions, the practice of collecting money for teacher appointments has become common in many places. As a result, qualifications and the qualities required of a teacher are often not given the importance they deserve. Those who are willing to pay the demanded amount may get teaching posts even if they lack other necessary qualifications. This has undoubtedly contributed to the decline in the quality of education. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed that people who do not possess the qualifications prescribed under the Right to Education Act, the National Council for Teacher Education Act and the University Grants Commission Act should not be appointed or regularised as teachers in schools and colleges. The court passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation filed by a person named Rajesh Chauhan. The petition challenged the practice of regularising people appointed without transparent and competitive procedures and paying them salaries from public funds. The court noted that such regularisation goes against the constitutional provisions guaranteeing equality.

Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned why unqualified people were being appointed and whether the future of students should be handled in such a manner. The court observed that such practices would ruin the future generation. Thousands of qualified candidates across the country are waiting for teaching appointments. Yet, instead of considering them, unqualified people are often brought into teaching positions through temporary arrangements. Several education experts have warned that such practices could lead to a wider decline in the overall quality of the education sector. Access to quality education is a fundamental right of children. One of the most important factors in ensuring this is the appointment of properly trained and qualified teachers. Therefore, the Supreme Court's ruling is not just about teacher appointments; it also reflects a broader concern for the future of the country's education system.