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Even as India celebrates sporting success on global stages, hundreds of qualified physical education (PE) teachers in Maharashtra say they remain unemployed, with recruitment for government schools stalled for over a decade. Members of the Maharashtra State Youth Physical Education Teachers’ Federation will assemble at Azad Maidan on April 27 to protest the delay, claiming that nearly 4000 posts remain vacant across the state.

Recruitment gap

According to protesting teachers:
>> Last recruitment for PE teachers was conducted in 2014
>> Nearly 4000 posts remain vacant
>> A January 2025 government resolution proposed fresh recruitment
>> Process has not begun yet, they claim
>> The resolution aimed to appoint physical education teachers in Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools, particularly in rural areas

No sports for students

Teachers and principals say the shortage has directly impacted students.
>> Many ZP schools function without a sports teacher
>> PE periods often become free periods or general outdoor time
>> Contract-based teachers are sometimes hired
“The children won’t develop athletic acumen if there are no trained teachers to guide them. Often these schools hire contract-based teachers, and there is no certainty to the kind of teaching they provide,” Desle said.

Representation pic/istock

Burden on schools

Sources from Zilla Parishad schools said the absence of trained staff has shifted responsibilities.
>> No dedicated physical education or arts teachers in many schools
>> Regular subject teachers manage sports activities
>> Limited structured sports training for students
“There are no physical education and arts teachers, and now the burden falls onto regular subject teachers to organise sports days and other activities. We need teachers to give students proper sports education,” said a ZP school principal.

‘Process has stalled’

“We are not sure where and why the process has come to a standstill. Now, many teachers are moving to private schools because government schools have not been recruiting actively for years. Now sports teachers don’t have an opportunity despite having degrees,” said Jayesh Desle, a Thane-based sports teacher and kho-kho player. Desle currently travels to a private school in Palghar for work.

Association members said the plan was to appoint:

>> One PE teacher for every 250 students
>> At least one teacher in each ZP kendra school

Wider concern

Naval Kishor Sikhwal, a physical education and yoga teacher, said the issue extends beyond Maharashtra. “Oftentimes, teachers may turn overage by the time they are recruited, and they might not find good jobs, and then they have to ask for age relaxation. Students, too, may not get proper physical and mental growth in such crucial ages if there are no physical education lectures,” he said.