The persistent teacher vacancies in government schools have been noticed in all databases and studies across the country. In the last academic year, 19% of secondary and higher secondary schools did not have a single mathematics teacher. Eighteen per cent secondary schools and 13% higher secondary schools did not have a single science teacher (UDISE data). What is perhaps less known is that regular principal and vice principal vacancies are equally, if not more deficient. However, teacher recruitment for government schools is often mired in delays, corruption, controversies, and court cases. We have had a Chief Minister in jail, a Minister behind…