Students at Smith Inter College in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, held protests on Tuesday protesting against the lack of teachers who are not teaching students in science and math in the country’s universities due to a chronic shortage of physics and mathematics classes in which science and mathematics are crucial.
The demonstration made students at the government-aided institution, which is a good facility, studying subjects like physics, chemistry and mathematics seem to be among the students who have been protesting the gap in their studies.
A large number of students took part in the sit-in and many girl students participated too. The protesters were concerned about the lack of regular teachers and said the lack of teachers in the classroom had affected learning for a long time. And the problem has been here for some years, some said, and some said that the institution had not had teachers in some subjects for 26 years, students said.
The students’ concerns were not limited to lack of regular teaching staff. They also questioned the charging of more fees for private instructors, who were supposed to take on the bulk of the work of the shortage of teaching staff and the “collection of additional fees,” they said. Students and their families were also likely to have been bearing an additional financial load while having to pay for their children’s education and other academic requirements.
The lack of teachers in science and mathematics is extremely relevant to students preparing for board exams and competitive entrance tests. Physics, chemistry and mathematics require consistent teaching in the classroom, problem-solving practice and regular guidance from the right teachers. If we can’t have permanent faculty to teach them we may need to pay for private tuition or coaching and that means some students may go on to make up a gap between those who can afford more and some who can’t.
The protest also highlighted broader issues of staffing levels in government-aided schools. This is because students from families with affordable education are in those schools. If teaching positions are vacant for more than a few months, students will have to go back to other places to learn which will not be good for them.
The demonstration continued until school management took action to resolve the students' concerns. After we had some discussion, the authorities said the protesters were promised a chemistry teacher would be appointed or made available either within 48 hours or so after the demonstration ended.
But the immediate demonstration ended after the assurance, as with most other teacher positions, the bigger issue is teacher availability. Students are saying that their problems are not limited to a single vacant position. The expected shortage in physics, chemistry and mathematics has raised some questions over how long students have been studying without regular faculty and what plans have been made to make sure that their syllabus is completed.
This episode also brings the need for educational authorities to ensure sanctioned teaching positions are filled and that students are not left without qualified teachers for extended periods. Regular monitoring of staffing requirements, timely recruitment and transparent communication with students and parents can prevent such disputes from becoming protests.
For Smith Inter College students, the promised chemistry teacher will be a step in the right direction. But the situation has also raised the prospect of a sustainable solution to teacher shortages across subjects. Students will expect the same for physics and mathematics, and the answer to the reported additional fees for private instructors.
Gen Alpha, Azamgarh, UP
— Sandeep Manudhane (@sandeep_PT) August 18, 2026
Protests against random fee hikes.
Something substantial is brewing across India - and it's a very positive sign when kids lead it.
🌹✊ pic.twitter.com/rfAlaqZWGL
The peaceful end of Tuesday’s demonstration gives school authorities and the concerned education department the opportunity to deal with students and parents to resolve the remaining issues. Teachers needing to be in classrooms at all times and keeping them there will be essential for students' academic satisfaction and for the confidence of those in the school.
So the Azamgarh protest is a reminder that access to education is not only a matter of school building and enrolled students. Good teaching staff, subject-specific faculty and affordable academic support are just as important to ensure that students experience the quality education they should. Smith Inter College will have to see if this assurance by the school authorities will result in a permanent improvement in staffing from now on.
