Telangana Sees 8% Decline in Higher Education Teachers as Student Numbers Rise
Ten years after its formation, Telangana has witnessed a significant decline in the number of teachers employed in higher education, even as student enrolments have surged, according to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24.
The state, which was created following university student protests in 2014, had 91,932 teachers in higher education institutions at the time of its formation. By 2023-24, this number dropped to 84,568 — a decrease of 7,364 teachers, or 8%. This contrasts with the national trend, where the number of teachers in higher education increased by 17.6% over the same period.
The decline is not limited to permanent faculty. Temporary or contract teachers also fell by 10%, from 3,250 in 2014-15 to 2,907 in 2023-24.
Gender-wise, the data reveals a mixed picture. The number of male teachers dropped sharply by 21.6%, from 59,146 to 46,360. In contrast, female teachers increased by 16.5%, from 32,786 to 38,208, partially offsetting the overall decline.
The reduction in teachers has been accompanied by a drop in the number of colleges. Telangana, which had the highest college density in India at 60 per lakh population (aged 18-23) in 2014-15, now ranks second at 56 per lakh, behind Karnataka. The total number of colleges fell from 2,450 in 2014-15 to 2,160 in 2023-24 — an 11.8% decrease.
Despite these declines, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education has grown from 36.1% to 46.6%, a 29.1% increase. Student enrolment rose from 1,479,088 to 1,787,460, a 20.8% jump. Notably, the number of Ph.D. candidates nearly doubled from 4,596 to 9,347, while undergraduate enrolment increased by 21.2% and postgraduate enrolment by 16%.
The pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) has worsened from 14:1 in 2014-15 to 17:1 in 2023-24, indicating increased pressure on faculty. A lower PTR is generally associated with better quality of education.
One positive trend is the growth in hostel facilities. The number of resident scholars rose from 127,511 in 2014-15 to 245,113 in 2023-24, a 92% increase, reflecting improved access for students who need to live away from home.
