Pune: Teachers Unwilling To Teach At PMC Run Schools Due To Poor Pay; Job Openings Remain Vacant

Pune, 20th September 2022: There are 214 vacancies for teachers in Pune Municipal corporation (PMC) but due to the low pay and non-permanent positions, candidates are not willing to apply.

According to PMC’s data, 314 primary and secondary schools are governed by them. Out of those, 73 schools—53 primary and 20 secondary—are taught in English. 1,800 teachers are working in English-medium schools, where more than one lakh kids choose to attend classes.

PMC deputises English-medium teachers on a six-month contract due to the high number of teachers. The PMC posts an advertisement for that process in which the pay for English-medium instructors is listed as between Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000 per month.

A recently hired teacher revealed, “The money we receive is pitiful for one to survive in a city like Pune. As the future of our nation, students are the focus of a lot of the duties and responsibilities that come with the wonderful profession of teaching. How can a teacher meet his or her fundamental requirements in these conditions and focus on teaching?”

Sachin Dimbale, president of the PMC Teachers Association said, “The weak attitude of the civic body toward teachers is regrettable. It’s difficult to accept that security guards even make more money than PMC school teachers. School teachers and other skilled workers must make a minimum of Rs 19,000 per month per the Minimum Wages Act.”

He added, “Why shouldn’t the PMC pay contract-based educators the same monthly salary as the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) of Rs 25,000? The municipal body should show respect for teaching because it is a noble profession. The PMC is not receiving responses from BEd and MEd trained professors as a result of their careless attitude.”