In India, we often say that teachers are like second parents. We revere them, celebrate their contribution to society, and want more young minds to join the noble profession. But behind this glorified image, the reality of academia in India is far from ideal. Many educators, especially women, face exploitation, severe pay gaps, and a lack of respect in private schools and colleges.
Kavita Kamboj, now a professor at Delhi University, recently shared her journey on LinkedIn, exposing the stark gender pay gap and toxic work culture she faced early in her career.
“I was 22. My salary was ₹3,200 per month, while my male colleagues were earning a minimum of ₹18,000 per month. The entire class used to attend his coaching center at his home, where he charged ₹1,000 per student for accounts tuition, with nearly 25 students. This meant he was earning around ₹43,000 per month,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, Kavita, who put her heart into classroom teaching, refused to push students toward tuition. The male teacher, known for his leniency and tuition classes, thrived. Meanwhile, Kavita, who was strict, disciplined, and deeply invested in her students’ learning, was left earning peanuts.
“The salary gap between male and female teachers in small towns and cities is significant. Moreover, with 10 years of experience, female teachers were getting merely 5K to 6K.”
She repeatedly asked the school principal for a raise, only to be ignored or given false reassurances. At Rs 3,200 per month, she could barely cover her travel and basic expenses. With no other option, she started applying elsewhere. After 2.2 years at the school, Kavita got an interview call from another institution. But when she arrived, she learned that the interviews had been cancelled.
The next day, her principal called her into the office, shut the curtains, and shockingly threatened her. The principal accused her of betraying the school by applying elsewhere while on leave, told her she was “nothing” to the organization, and even warned her that she would ruin her chances of getting a job anywhere.
“Meanwhile, I cleared my UGC NET with JRF and set my sights on college teaching, my dream. But there were no jobs for me. I was a fresher and experienced candidates were in the line already. They were earning only ₹8,000–₹10,000 per month in a private college. I got a job in a government college in Chandigarh with a salary of ₹25,800 per month—no gender bias, no exploitation. At 24, I became the youngest Assistant Professor in the college.”
When she informed her school principal, she was met with yet another round of shouting. But this time, Kavita felt nothing. She had won. Without an experience certificate or security deposit refund, she walked away with something even greater – her self-respect and the tag of an Assistant professor
“Looking back, I realize that school teachers are often not treated with the dignity and respect they deserve for their hard work.
In small cities and towns, college and school teachers are also not given a decent salary. Pay parity remains a concern in India, with gender often influencing salary structures in schools and colleges.”
Have a look at her LinkedIn posts here:
The government must ensure minimum wages for teachers and conduct strict inspections to prevent underpayment. Women should receive equal pay for equal work, especially in academia. It’s high time India truly respects its teachers – not just in words, but in paychecks too.