Startling data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act has uncovered a significant shortage of teaching staff within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) school system. The information reveals that a substantial number of teaching positions remain unfilled, raising serious concerns about the quality of education provided to the city's children.
Scale of the Vacancy Crisis
The RTI application, filed by Krunnal Gharre, the vice president of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Pune City, brought this issue to light. The official response, received on October 10, provided a snapshot of the staffing situation as of June 13, 2025. According to the data, out of a total of 2,840 sanctioned teaching posts across PMC schools, a staggering 320 positions are currently vacant. This translates to a vacancy rate of 11.25 percent.
Political Reaction and Legal Threat
In a strongly worded statement, Krunnal Gharre and Shital Kandelkar, the president of the AAP Shikshak Aghadi, condemned the situation. They accused the government of hypocrisy, stating that its boasts of "education reforms," "digital schools," and "quality learning" stand in stark contrast to the reality on the ground. They described the scenario as not merely administrative neglect but a "grave social injustice" that deprives thousands of children of their rightful education.
Gharre further elaborated on the potential long-term consequences, warning that "empty classrooms don't just stop education — they stop the future of society." He connected the lack of educational opportunities to broader social issues, suggesting a direct link to the rise in juvenile crime in Pune. "A child denied education grows directionless, frustrated, and vulnerable to wrong paths," he added. In response to this crisis, the AAP has announced its plan to file a writ petition in the Bombay High Court, arguing that this vacancy crisis constitutes a violation of children's fundamental right to education.
PMC School Network and Official Silence
The RTI data also provided a breakdown of the PMC's educational infrastructure. The corporation operates a vast network of 313 schools teaching in various language mediums. The breakdown is as follows:
- 234 Marathi medium schools
- 46 English medium schools
- 31 Urdu medium schools
- 2 Kannada medium schools
Despite multiple attempts to get an official perspective on this critical issue, The Indian Express reported that they could not reach PMC Administrative Officer (Primary Education Department) Sunanda Wakhare for comment. Repeated calls and messages went unanswered, leaving the civic body's stance on the teacher vacancy crisis unexplained.
