Teachers urge Punjab government to invest in training institutes

The state government is facing criticism from the Democratic Teacher’s Front, Punjab, for focusing on foreign teacher training programs in Singapore and Finland while neglecting the District Institutes of Educational Training (DIETs). DIETs, established under a Central Government scheme to train elementary and primary teachers in modern pedagogies, are grappling with severe staff shortages and outdated infrastructure. Vikramdev Singh, President of the Democratic Teacher’s Front, called the government’s approach an “absolute waste of resources,” emphasising that instead of funding overseas training, the government should focus on strengthening DIETs.

“There are numerous vacancies not only in government schools but also in DIETs. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has raised concerns about this issue as well,” Singh said. He attributed the shortage to teachers being constantly assigned non-academic duties, leaving institutions understaffed. He added that addressing DIETs’ staffing problems is crucial, urging the education department to prioritize local solutions over foreign training tours.

The state currently has 22 DIETs, and while a plan was announced last year to upgrade them into “Centres of Excellence” with an initial investment of Rs 15 crore, progress has stalled. Despite sanctioned posts for 22-25 staff members at each DIET, these institutes have faced chronic staff shortages. In response, the department transferred 14 teachers from government schools last year, but these temporary transfers have been ineffective.