Over 900 Teaching Posts Vacant Across 12 Delhi University Colleges, Academic Delivery Under Strain

A deepening faculty crisis is affecting classrooms across 12 Delhi University (DU) colleges fully funded by the Delhi government, with more than 900 teaching posts lying vacant. The shortage of permanent faculty has stretched academic delivery, forcing colleges to increasingly rely on guest lecturers, raising concerns about teaching quality, course continuity, and student mentoring.

According to recent data, of the 1,508 sanctioned teaching posts in these 12 colleges, only 528 permanent teachers are in place. This leaves 980 posts unfilled, meaning nearly two-thirds of faculty positions are vacant.

Colleges Affected

The 12 DU colleges facing severe faculty shortages include:

• Acharya Narendra Dev College
• Aditi Mahavidyalaya
• BR Ambedkar College
• Bhaskaracharya College
• Bhagini Nivedita College
• DDU College
• Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education
• Keshav Mahavidyalaya
• Maharaja Agrasen College
• Maharshi Valmiki College
• Rajguru College
• Sukhdev College

These institutions largely cater to students from middle- and lower-income backgrounds, many of whom rely on government-funded colleges for quality higher education.

Faculty Shortages by College

The numbers highlight the serious imbalance between sanctioned posts and actual faculty strength, with some colleges operating at less than 25–30% of their required permanent teaching staff.

Impact of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme

The faculty shortage has been exacerbated by the introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) under the National Education Policy (NEP). Starting from the 2025–26 academic session, students have entered their fourth year, significantly increasing teaching loads.

Despite the increased curriculum, faculty appointments continue to follow the older three-year course structure, leaving colleges inadequately staffed. This mismatch has forced institutions to rely heavily on guest lecturers, who now account for 25–30% of teaching staff, well above the 10% limit prescribed by university rules.

A senior DU teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity, said,

“Colleges are running courses with temporary arrangements. This affects both teaching quality and evaluation.”

EWS Expansion Adds Pressure

The situation has grown even more complex with the expansion of the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota. Nearly 3,000 additional student seats have been created under the quota across Delhi University. However, corresponding teaching positions have not been sanctioned, further stretching the existing faculty.

Professor Hansraj Suman, chairman of the Forum of Academics for Social Justice, pointed out:

“Colleges have admitted more students, but no new teachers have been appointed. This imbalance is unsustainable.”

The forum has formally requested Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the allocation of 25% additional teaching posts to account for the increase in EWS seats.

Currently, 46 colleges have submitted data to the university requesting additional faculty based on rising enrollment, but details from 35 colleges are still pending.

Long-Term Recruitment Gap

Faculty representatives report that no regular assistant professor appointments have been made in these 12 government-funded colleges for nearly a decade. The situation has worsened due to:

• Retirements without immediate replacement
• Delayed recruitment processes
• Movement of ad-hoc faculty to permanent positions in other universities

As a result, the actual number of vacancies may now exceed 1,000, when considering these practical gaps.

Colleges Struggling with Limited Staff

The scale of the problem is evident from specific colleges:

• Bhagini Nivedita College: 33 permanent teachers vs. 132 posts
• Rajguru College: 22 permanent teachers vs. 134 posts
• Keshav Mahavidyalaya: 45 permanent teachers vs. 116 posts

Across the 12 colleges, nearly 980 posts remain vacant, leaving institutions dependent on temporary arrangements and guest faculty. Teachers warn that unless recruitment begins immediately, academic standards, student mentoring, and research culture will suffer further.

Implications for Students

For thousands of students, the crisis raises serious questions about academic continuity and quality. When classrooms lack qualified permanent faculty, the very concept of a “college classroom” is threatened. Students face challenges such as:

• Reduced one-on-one mentoring and guidance
• Irregular course delivery and evaluation
• Limited research and project opportunities
• Inconsistent academic support from guest lecturers

Without urgent intervention, these issues may affect learning outcomes, employability, and higher education readiness for students, particularly those from middle- and lower-income backgrounds.

Call for Immediate Action

Education experts and faculty groups are urging:

1. Immediate recruitment drives to fill vacant permanent positions
2. Additional posts to meet the demands of the four-year undergraduate programme and EWS expansion
3. Strengthening long-term academic planning to prevent similar crises in the future
4. Ensuring regular faculty appointments rather than relying on temporary measures

As Professor Suman emphasized,

“Colleges have admitted more students without adding teachers. This imbalance is unsustainable and must be addressed immediately.”

The university and government must act urgently to ensure that classrooms continue to serve as true centers of learning rather than temporary teaching arrangements.

Conclusion

The faculty shortage across Delhi University’s 12 government-funded colleges is a crisis that has built up over years. With nearly two-thirds of sanctioned posts vacant, the introduction of the four-year undergraduate programme and EWS quota expansion has only added to the pressure.

Unless immediate recruitment and staffing measures are taken, the quality of education, mentoring, and research culture at these institutions could face long-term damage. For students relying on these colleges, the pressing concern is no longer just the number of teachers, but the availability of qualified educators capable of delivering meaningful learning experiences.

With over 900 teaching posts vacant, Delhi University now faces a defining moment: act decisively to protect academic standards or risk compromising the education of thousands of students.