Bhāpur. In a formal missive addressed to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Congress stalwart and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has appealed for a dramatic expansion of the ongoing Class‑2 and Class‑3 teacher recruitment drive in Madhya Pradesh.

Letter spotlights a deepening teacher shortfall

Gandhi’s letter, dated September 29, stresses the persistent scarcity of qualified educators in state‑run schools—a concern echoed by aspirants during his recent programme in Indore. He referenced official statistics that reveal more than one lakh teaching positions across the state remain vacant, a gap he says is eroding the quality of student learning.

Current recruitment numbers fall far short

The 2025 hiring cycle has announced 13,089 openings for Class‑3 teachers and 10,800 for Class‑2 teachers. Gandhi argues that these figures are starkly inadequate given the scale of the backlog, and he urges the government to raise the quotas to match the actual demand.

Candidates left in limbo

Numerous candidates who have performed well in the selection exams are still awaiting permanent appointments because the allocated posts are insufficient. Gandhi also highlighted the situation of guest teachers already teaching in classrooms, who continue to hope for regularised posts. Some aspirants are nearing the upper age limit while their futures remain uncertain.

Protests and notices intensify

Teacher‑training hopefuls have resorted to demonstrations and hunger strikes to voice their demands. According to Gandhi, authorities have issued notices to several protestors instead of engaging with their grievances. He calls on the chief minister to rescind these notices and open a constructive dialogue with candidate representatives.

Demand for a second counselling round

Beyond expanding the Class‑2 and Class‑3 vacancies, Gandhi implores the state to commence the second phase of counselling without further delay. He contends that prompt action on both fronts will enhance the quality of government schools and provide stable employment to thousands of qualified teachers.