Hiring teaching staff at cheaper wages in place of qualified, permanent employees not only leads to compromised services but also threatens the foundations of future development. When this disturbing trend seeps into education, the consequences for future generations are alarming.
A recent case from Delhi's elite school sheds light on this growing crisis. A permanent government school teacher with a handsome salary of nearly a lakh per month is reportedly living abroad as a glorified househusband imitating Western culture while continuing to draw his salary in India. Shockingly, this isn't an isolated incident; it's part of a more comprehensive, morally corrupt system where schools, teachers, and administrations turn a blind eye to such fraudulent behaviour, duping students and society alike. What makes this case particularly egregious is the brazen justifications offered by the teacher in question: he claims to be "providing a job" to someone else. At the same time, he resides comfortably in Israel, supported by his spouse's salary.
The reality, however, is much darker. The outsourced "replacement" is often someone with compromised skills willing to accept substandard pay for a role that requires significant expertise and commitment. As a result, the students, who depend on their teachers for guidance and knowledge, are the victims. These are the same students whose education is partially subsidised by the government to ensure equal access to quality schooling. Yet, they are left to fend for themselves in an environment where subpar teaching is the norm.
Let’s be clear—this isn’t just an issue of one or two teachers exploiting loopholes. It reflects a dangerous precedent where outsourcing becomes a tool for personal profit at the expense of public welfare. The educator, in this case, living abroad while receiving a full salary, is essentially reaping the benefits of two worlds: he stays with his family at minimal cost, lives comfortably as a house husband, and accumulates savings from his spouse's earnings abroad—all while pocketing taxpayer money back home.
The hypocrisy is glaring. These teachers argue that outsourcing helps another person gain employment. Still, they conveniently ignore that these "replacements" are less qualified, less committed, and ultimately less able to provide the quality education students deserve. The students lose, society loses, and the country's future is at risk.
This issue isn't limited to one instance or one city. Similar cases have emerged, such as a recent scandal in Gujarat, highlighting that this problem is systemic. The more the government and educational institutions turn a blind eye to this behaviour, the more pervasive it will become. And yet, those who see the injustice and understand the long-term damage being done feel powerless to protest.
But why are we silent? Why are we not standing up against this blatant abuse of public trust? Is it because the perpetrators are those with influence, those who understand how to game the system? Or is it because we have become desensitised to the decline of moral standards in education?
Esteemed educators across the country have voiced their concern about this growing menace. Professor M.R.K. Prasad, Principal of Salgaonkar College of Law in Goa, emphasised, “Teaching is not some manual or technical job that doesn’t matter who completes the work. Teachers are appointed based on personal skills. The experience of a teacher is the most valuable to students. Students would be denied that experience, and the quality of teaching would erode.”
Similarly, Dr. Joydeep Bhattacharjee, Principal of Government College Quepem, adds, “Teaching is something that cannot and should not be outsourced. All appointments are made after interviewing a person. That cannot be substituted." The crux of this issue is the erosion of personal accountability and the degradation of a system that millions rely on to shape the minds of the future.
“The outsourcing of teaching jobs is not just a question of fraud but also a reflection of how we value education in India. Suppose he is being protected by the principal, and other school administration and monitoring authority. In that case, it is equal to a crime,” said Satarupa Majumdar,a schoolteacher of Swapnopuron Shikha Niketan from Sundarbans. The government and educational institutions must understand that profit-driven decisions will cost the nation far more than an undereducated, unprepared generation. We must draw a line against this exploitative practice, or we risk hollowing out the very foundation of our education system.
Teachers and institutions, accountable for shaping the minds of tomorrow cannot continue to prioritise profits over people. It is their moral responsibility.
Key Statistics:
- 1,300+ teachers suspended for long-term absence and corruption.
- Many teachers had migrated abroad but still drew salaries.
- The government seeks to recover salaries paid during their absence.
- Departmental inquiries, dismissals, and recovery processes are underway.
Source: The Hindu