Question : Teachers Training

(a) whether the Government is aware that a large number of untrained teachers are being
employed in Government schools across the country at the primary and upper primary levels
and if so, the facts and the details thereof, State/UT and year-wise ;
(b) whether the Government is also aware that several State Governments have been employing
teachers without any professional training resulting poor quality in education ;
(c) if so, whether the Government and NCTE propose to lay down the minimum qualification for
teachers at the elementary school levels and also to provide mandatory professional training;
and
(d) if so, the steps Union Government proposes to take in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) & (b): The State Governments and UTs have reported a total of 5,11,679 teachers, as on 31st
March, 2015, working in the Government & Government aided schools at elementary level (primary
and upper primary) who need to acquire the minimum qualifications, as prescribed by National
Council for Teacher Education (NCTE). State wise details regarding the number of in-service
untrained teachers working in the Government & Government-aided schools at elementary level is
given at Annexure.
(c): Section 23(1) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009,
lays down that ‘Any person possessing such minimum qualifications, as laid down by an academic
authority, authorised by the Central Government, by notification, shall be eligible for appointment as
a teacher’. In exercise of the powers conferred under this Section, NCTE has been notified by the
Central Government as the academic authority to lay down the minimum qualifications required for a
person to be appointed as a teacher at elementary level. Accordingly, NCTE vide its notification
dated 23rd August, 2010 (as amended vide notification dated 29th July, 2011) has prescribed such
minimum qualifications. The Proviso to Section 23(2), RTE Act, 2009 lays down that ‘Provided that
a teacher who, at the commencement of this Act, does not possess minimum qualifications as laid
down under sub-section(1), shall acquire such minimum qualifications within a period of five years’.
(d) As States have reported that in-service untrained teachers still exist at elementary level, the
Central Government has initiated the process of amending the RTE Act, 2009 to extend the period
available for such training by 31st March, 2019.
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