A recent report by the Centre of Excellence in Teacher Education (CETE) at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) sheds light on the state of mathematics education in India. The State of Teachers, Teaching and Teacher Education Report (SOTTTER) reveals a concerning statistic: between 35% and 41% of mathematics teachers, in both government and private schools across eight Indian states, did not major in mathematics during their undergraduate studies.The report, titled 'The Right Teacher for Every Child,' draws attention to the broader issue of teacher availability and deployment. It underscores the persistent problem of teacher vacancies, with mathematics topping the list at 35%, followed by English (31%) and regional languages (30%).Conducted in states such as Maharashtra, Bihar, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, Mizoram, and Telangana, the survey encompasses 422 schools, 3615 teachers, 422 Head Teachers, 68 teacher education institutions, 1481 student teachers in B.Ed. programs, and 268 teacher educators. The data, which includes information from eight background research papers utilizing primary and secondary sources, including UDISE+ 2021-22 and Periodic Labour Force Survey 2021-22, provides a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape.The report reveals that only 46% of teachers instructing primary classes possess appropriate professional qualifications nationwide. Moreover, regional disparities exist, particularly in the North Eastern and Himalayan States, where basic amenities for teachers and students are still lacking.The attractiveness of the teaching profession is adversely affected by poor employment terms in the private sector and irregular recruitment in the government sector. In many states, the private sector employs a significant 40% of teachers, with over 50% lacking written contracts.Despite the government's emphasis on multidisciplinary, holistic education, the report notes a shortage of teachers for subjects like physical education, music, and art. Physical education teachers are notably lacking, with 36% in government schools and 65% in private schools. The provision of art and music teachers is even scarcer.Researchers suggest that the trends identified in this report can inform policy decisions related to teacher demand and supply, recruitment, and pre-service teacher education. Padma M. Sarangapani, Chairperson of the CETE at TISS and lead author of the report, emphasizes, "By using multiple sources of data, we were able to provide a very comprehensive view of the teaching occupation across both government and private sectors and gain insights into occupational trends."
--Excerpts from Indian Express