Shortage of Teachers Undermines NEP Rollout in Maharashtra’s Colleges

As of December 31, 2024, government-aided colleges across Maharashtra were facing an alarming 38 percent shortfall in teaching staff, with 11,918 lecturer and assistant professor posts lying vacant out of 31,185 sanctioned positions. This staffing crisis is especially critical in institutions affiliated with the University of Mumbai, where a whopping 41 percent of such positions remained unfilled.

College principals have voiced their mounting frustration: the shortage of permanent faculty renders implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) nearly impossible. “We need permanent staff to teach the various courses we need to offer under the NEP,” noted one principal, highlighting reliance on hour-based contractual faculty who often depart after six months due to meagre remuneration. The resulting lack of continuity undermines the NEP’s goal of multidisciplinary education through open electives and flexible curricula.

Compounding the crisis is the institutionalisation of "clock-hour basis" (CHB) employment: colleges are increasingly dependent on such short-term hires, even doubling CHB teachers to spread workloads. Yet, with rates capped at Rs 900–1000 per lecture and no job security, these positions suffer from high attrition and fail to deliver educational quality.

In response, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has mandated that at least 80 percent of sanctioned posts be filled to preserve accreditation standards under NAAC. And Maharashtra’s higher education sector may see relief soon: in July, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved recruitment drives for more than 7,900 teaching and over 2,200 non-teaching posts across universities and government-aided colleges. However, as of now, public notices for these openings remain pending.