The proportion of female school teachers in India has reached a historic milestone, with women comprising 53.3% of the teaching workforce in 2023-24. This marks the highest recorded level of female representation in the sector, according to the latest government data. The shift underscores a steady trend towards greater gender diversity in school education over recent years.
In 2018-19, the teaching workforce was nearly evenly split, with male teachers marginally outnumbering their female counterparts at 50.01%. However, by 2023-24, the number of female teachers had increased significantly to 52 lakh, while the number of male teachers dropped to approximately 45 lakh. This rise in female representation reflects a 3.3 percentage point increase over five years, according to data from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).
The UDISE+ reports for 2022-23 and 2023-24, recently released by the Education Ministry, highlight a consistent upward trajectory in female representation. Women first surpassed the 50% mark in 2019-20 and have steadily increased their share each year since, with notable jumps recorded in the last two years.
However, the data reveals disparities between school education and higher education. In higher education, male teachers still dominate, with women making up only 43% of the workforce, as per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) for 2021-22.
Within school education, private institutions have driven much of the progress. Female representation in private schools rose from 62% in 2018-19 to 66% in 2023-24, reflecting a sharper increase compared to government schools, where the workforce remains predominantly male.
The data underscores the evolving gender dynamics in school education, highlighting private institutions as a key factor in this transformation while suggesting room for improvement in government schools and higher education.
