Education Without Educators: The Hypocrisy in How We Treat Teachers

In a country where teachers are spoken of as second only to gods, why are they treated as if they are dispensable? This piece is a call to look beyond lip service and address the deep-rooted neglect and exploitation of educators in both schools and colleges across India.
— Editor, AboutHerMag

“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference — the father, the mother, and the teacher.”
— Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

And yet, in India today, we ask one of these pillars — the teacher — to build beautiful minds while being denied dignity, stability, and sometimes even a timely salary.

We glorify the idea of education but disregard the educators who make it possible. There is a growing chasm between what we say we value — knowledge, inspiration, learning — and how we actually treat those who cultivate it.

1. The Paradox of Indian Education

India worships the idea of the guru. From ancient scriptures to Teacher’s Day speeches, we uphold teachers as torchbearers of knowledge. But in the very next breath, we underpay them, overwork them, and ignore their grievances.

Schools flaunt infrastructure, rankings, and affiliations. Colleges boast of placement stats and accreditation badges. But the human engine driving all this — the teacher — is too often running on fumes.

Take Delhi, for example. In several government-funded colleges, teachers have gone unpaid for months at a time — not once, but repeatedly, over the past five years. These are not exceptions; they’re symptoms of a broken system where reverence is ceremonial and respect is seasonal.

2. The Commercialisation of Education

Education today is more brand than mission. Schools and colleges are marketed like businesses, complete with CEOs, target-driven models, and fancy websites. Within this setup, teachers are treated as line items — not lifelines.

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Short-term contracts. Abrupt dismissals. Little to no investment in professional development. Whether it’s a teacher in a Delhi private school or a guest lecturer in a college, the treatment is alarmingly similar: replaceable.

When institutions prioritise optics over outcomes and profits over pedagogy, they devalue the very people who give education its soul.

3. The “Sacrifice” Myth

There’s a persistent romanticism around teaching: that it’s a noble calling, a selfless pursuit, a labour of love. But this narrative, when unchecked, becomes a tool for exploitation.

It tells teachers they should work for passion, not pay. That asking for time off is selfish. That speaking up about salary delays is ungrateful.

And so, generations of educators are told to endure — to serve despite lack of support, to stay quiet when mistreated, and to find joy in the “privilege” of teaching. This isn’t idealism. It’s gaslighting.

4. Economic Reality: Teachers Are People Too

Teachers don’t live in ivory towers. They have EMIs, medical needs, families to care for, and ambitions of their own.

But many are denied even the basics. From underpaid private school teachers managing multiple grades with no prep time, to Delhi University guest lecturers renewing contracts every few months, the system is built on financial and emotional precarity.

Burnout becomes inevitable. Moonlighting becomes necessary. Passion becomes a memory.

And when those responsible for shaping young minds are forced to compromise their own well-being, how can we expect excellence in the classroom?

5. Systemic Issues and Power Equations

In too many educational institutions, power sits at the top — far removed from the classroom. Boards, management committees, or government departments make decisions in isolation, expecting teachers to obey, absorb, and deliver without question.

Common issues include:

• Delayed or arbitrary salaries (especially in government colleges)
• No maternity or medical benefits
• No clear growth paths or mentorship
• Top-down control with little feedback or transparency

Teachers are not stakeholders in their own profession. They’re expected to be grateful for whatever scraps come their way.

6. The Bigger Danger: Impact on Students

The most dangerous consequence of this systemic disregard? The impact on students.

When teachers are disengaged, under-supported, or disrespected, classrooms suffer. Learning suffers. Young minds receive instruction, but not inspiration.

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In colleges, where students are meant to debate, ideate, and grow into critical thinkers, this absence of mentorship creates long shadows. The cost of a demoralised teacher is paid in years of student potential lost.

7. What Needs to Change

The solutions are not impossible. They just require intent — and investment.

• Fair Pay & Regular Disbursal — Especially in publicly funded colleges
• Job Security — Long-term contracts over exploitative ad-hoc systems
• Professional Development — Training, sabbaticals, research support
• Benefits & Well-being — Maternity leave, medical insurance, mental health access
• Teacher Voice — Inclusion in curriculum and policy decisions
• Cultural Shift — From control to collaboration, from command to care

Most of all, we must stop treating education as a business with customers — and start treating it as a nation-building endeavour with citizens.

Conclusion: Reclaiming the Soul of Education

We can no longer afford to celebrate teachers in poetry and neglect them in policy.

To school owners and college boards: Don’t just build buildings. Build cultures of respect.
To policymakers: Respect isn’t just in your speeches. It’s in your budgets.
To parents and students: Value the educators behind every lesson, not just the results.

“Those who educate children well are more to be honoured than those who produce them.”
— Aristotle

We’ve honoured teachers in principle long enough. Now, it’s time we honour them in practice.