In A First, India Appoints More Female Teachers Than Male Teachers: Report

According to the Unified District Information on School Education, 2019-20 report released last week, for the first time, female school teachers in India have outnumbered their male counterparts.

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For the first time, the number of female teachers is more than male teachers in the Indian schools. According to the Unified District Information on School Education (UDISE), 2019-20 report released last week, for the first time, female school teachers in India have outnumbered their male counterparts. Significantly, out of 96.8 lakh teachers in the country, 49.2 lakh are women. The U-DISE report is released every year by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Union Ministry of Education.

An increase of female teachers since 2013

In 2012-13, there were 35.8 lakh female teachers across the country as against 42.4 lakh males. During this period, the number of female teachers in schools has increased by more than 37%  The number of male teachers increased from 42.4 lakh to 47.7 lakh in the same period.

However, women teachers are at the top of the headcount only at the primary level. According to the report, upper primary onwards, the number of male teachers remains higher. There are more than 1 lakh female teachers for 27,000 males at the pre-primary level.

Ratio in primary grade more balanced

The ratio is more balanced in the primary grade with 19.6 lakh female teachers and 15.7 lakh male teachers. There are 11.5 lakh male and 10.6 lakh female teachers in the upper primary classes. From here on, the gap in the number of female and male teachers in the classes increases. There are 6.3 lakh male and 5.2 lakh female teachers in secondary schools. In higher secondary, there are 3.7 lakh male teachers and 2.8 lakh female teachers.

More male teachers in government and aided schools

There are more male teachers in government and aided schools, while female teachers are ahead in private unaided schools. Larger states have more male teachers than females in higher grades, with the exception of Kerala, Delhi, Meghalaya, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. These states have more female teachers than males in secondary and higher secondary classes.