'₹80K salary, zero basics': Bihar teacher fails to solve basic math problem. Video goes viral

A viral video from a government school in Bihar has reignited concerns about the quality of education and teacher preparedness in public schools. The footage shows a contract-based teacher struggling to solve a basic math problem, raising serious doubts about the competence of educators who often earn monthly salaries between ₹70,000 and ₹80,000.

The clip begins with a man asking the teacher about her role, to which she responds that she is a Shikshan Sevak—a contract teacher appointed for a limited period. He then presents her with a simple math question. Instead of solving it, the teacher repeatedly makes the same mistakes, despite corrections from the man recording the video.

The Instagram post carrying the viral video read: “A government school teacher, despite earning ₹70,000–80,000 a month, was reportedly unable to solve basic math problems, exposing worrying gaps in the public education system. While salaries may be adequate, competence and training remain questionable. If even foundational knowledge isn’t delivered properly, the vision of a developed, skilled India stands compromised.”


ET has not independently verified the video.

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Nonetheless, the incident has drawn sharp criticism, highlighting the gap between the qualifications required to secure government teaching jobs and the fundamental skills actually demonstrated in classrooms.

The post triggered strong reactions online. One user wrote: “Deserving candidates are under stress in private jobs, while people like her earn huge salaries without basic knowledge.” Another alleged: “There are institutions handing out B.Ed. and M.A. degrees for money without attendance or proper exams.”

This controversy comes on the heels of other teacher-related incidents. Earlier this year in Bhopal, a teacher at Mahatma Gandhi Higher Secondary School was suspended after a video showed a student massaging her feet during class. In another shocking case from Bihar, a teacher allegedly turned up drunk at school and declared a holiday—despite the state enforcing total prohibition since 2016.

Together, these episodes spotlight deep-rooted issues in the education system, raising urgent questions about recruitment practices, teacher training, and monitoring in government schools.