Former Education Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia called for a substantial increase in teachers' salaries, suggesting they should surpass those of IAS officers if India aims to achieve developed country status by 2047.
Speaking at the ‘Shikshak Samman Samaroh’ organized by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to celebrate Teachers' Day, Sisodia emphasized the critical role of educators in shaping the nation's future.
“Today, there is a lot of talk about India of 2047. The teachers who are sitting here today, the children you have with you are very important for 2047. The India of 2047 depends on these children. But even policy makers have to do something for them,” Sisodia said. “In most developed countries, the salary of teachers is more than the bureaucrats there. A teacher with five years of experience draws more salary than an IAS officer with five years of posting,” as quoted by Edex Live.
Reflecting on his recent incarceration in Tihar Jail, Sisodia shared that he spent significant time reading and studying international education systems. “When we are in difficult circumstances, the lessons learnt by teachers are most useful. I studied a lot during this time. I used to read books for 8-10 hours. Most of all, I read about education, India’s education system, the world’s education system,” as quoted by Edex Live.
Sisodia, who was jailed for 17 months in connection with an excise policy money laundering case, was released on bail last month. He used his time in prison to deepen his understanding of educational practices, reinforcing his belief in the transformative power of investing in teachers.