College Teacher Vacancies Spark Row in Tripura Assembly
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Agartala
- Mar 20, 2026
- 571
A sharp political confrontation unfolded in the Tripura Assembly during the budget session over persistent teacher vacancies and the widespread engagement of guest lecturers in the higher education sector.
Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman launched a detailed attack on the government, questioning Higher Education Minister Kishore Barman over what he termed as “policy inconsistencies” in recruitment.
He pointed out that while the government officially acknowledges 306 vacant posts, as many as 732 guest or visiting lecturers are currently serving across state colleges.
Barman further highlighted that recruitment for 200 posts is underway through the Tripura Public Service Commission (TPSC), alongside a proposal to create 201 additional posts—taking the total to 401.
He questioned the logic behind proposing a further 95 posts amid this ongoing process.
Raising concerns over recruitment standards, the Congress MLA alleged deviations from University Grants Commission (UGC) norms. As per guidelines, lecturers are required to possess NET, SLATE, or PhD qualifications.
However, he claimed that many guest lecturers only hold postgraduate degrees, and in some instances, such candidates have even been elevated to assistant professor roles.
He also sought clarity on possible age relaxation for candidates above 40 years.
Responding to the allegations, Minister Kishore Barman attempted to justify the current framework. However, Chief Minister Manik Saha intervened, stating that appointing guest and visiting lecturers has long been a necessity due to the shortage of NET, SLATE, and PhD-qualified candidates.
Countering this claim, Sudip Roy Barman asserted that nearly 1,700 eligible candidates are available within the state. The Chief Minister assured the House that the matter would be reviewed.
The issue had earlier been flagged by Congress MLA Gopal Chandra Roy, while Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chowdhury also joined the debate. He cited data from July 30, 2019, noting that the sanctioned strength of assistant professors stands at 1,390, with a mandated teacher-student ratio of 1:30 under UGC norms.
Providing a breakdown, the minister informed that of the 306 vacancies, 234 are in general degree colleges, 26 in professional colleges, and 46 in technical institutions.
Out of 683 sanctioned posts in general degree colleges, 449 are filled, while requisition has been sent to TPSC for 201 assistant professor appointments. In technical colleges, 58 out of 104 posts are filled, leaving 46 vacant. Additionally, there is a proposal to create 200 new posts.
Despite these measures, the opposition remains unconvinced, maintaining that the continued reliance on 732 guest lecturers reflects systemic gaps in recruitment and workforce planning in Tripura’s higher education system.