Many Urdu Teacher Posts Remain Vacant in Telangana
The long-awaited recruitment drive for Urdu medium teachers in Telangana has left many disappointed. After seven years since the last notification in 2017, the latest DSC notification in 2024 resulted in more than half of the Urdu medium teaching posts remaining unfilled. Out of the 1,183 posts reserved for Urdu medium, only 517 were filled, leaving 666 posts vacant. These unfilled positions fall under reserved categories, which has pushed many Urdu medium schools closer to closure.
In the DSC-2024 recruitment process, a total of 11,080 teaching posts were announced for various educational institutions. Of these, 1,183 posts were allocated to the Urdu medium. However, the lack of eligible candidates from reserved categories for these positions left 666 posts vacant. This issue has become a recurring challenge, adding to the struggles of Urdu medium schools in the state.
Md Abdul Khaled, an aspirant, expressed his frustration and pointed out that this problem has persisted since 2008. He explained that Urdu medium schools are suffering major losses due to the persistent shortage of teachers. Khaled, along with others, has been urging the government to “de-reserve” the unfilled positions under the Subordinate Service Rules, 1996. He cited past instances where such posts were converted into open category positions during the tenure of Chandrababu Naidu and the Congress government in Unified Andhra Pradesh. “In 2008, the government de-reserved and filled the posts based on merit after conducting examinations, but this practice has not been continued in subsequent notifications,” he said.
The issue has garnered attention from political leaders across party lines. AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi raised the matter during the Assembly sessions on December 18, 2024. He recalled how, during the tenure of YS Rajasekhar Reddy, he had urged the government to de-reserve Urdu teacher posts to address the backlog. Owaisi reiterated this demand, emphasizing that without such action, the backlog of unfilled posts would continue to grow, delaying recruitment efforts with each new notification.
Similarly, MLC Amer Ali Khan addressed the issue in a letter to the Legislative Council Chairman after teacher associations brought it to his attention. He stressed that converting vacant reserved positions into open category posts could help sustain struggling Urdu medium schools. Khan highlighted that the lack of teachers is exacerbating the crisis faced by these institutions.
Frustrated aspirants have also launched campaigns to demand action from the government. Since it became clear that the 666 posts would remain unfilled, campaigns like #JusticeforUrdumedium have gained traction. Aspirants, supported by student groups like the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO), have organized protests at various locations, including Gandhi Bhavan. “Urdu medium schools need teachers now! The government should convert unfilled backlog posts to open category from DSC-2012, TRT-2017, and DSC-2024,” said Fariya Tabassum, one of the campaign leaders.
The situation remains dire as stakeholders continue to call for urgent intervention to save Urdu medium schools and ensure that qualified candidates are given an opportunity to fill these posts.
