After the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission (UPESSC) issued an advertisement for over 12,000 posts of Assistant Teachers in schools, recruitment exam aspirants and aspirant collectives on Wednesday (September 16, 2026) alleged that over 20 lakh students have been betrayed by the government, as such a low number of vacancies coming after eight years is a gross injustice amid students wasting years on the examination. They added that government records show more than 60,000 vacant positions for teachers in government schools. 

“After eight years, the mere 12,000-odd posts will not work; the government should issue a joint advertisement for 60 thousand posts, including both urban and rural areas. When there are 48,883 vacant posts in the rural cadre [as per the data presented by the Education Minister in the House], then why is recruitment only in the urban cadre, we are reaching the State Basic Education Directorate, Lucknow tomorrow for a protest demanding an increase in vacancies, it’s a betrayal,” said Abhinav Singh, an aspirant based in Prayagraj. 

“The vacancy for primary teachers has not been advertised for the last eight years. After an indefinite sit-in protest at Pathar Girijaghar, this notification has been advertised. We want the notification and time-bound recruitment of at least 60,000 teachers in government schools yearly; over two lakh aspirants qualify for the D.E.LED and BTC training etc.,” said Pankaj Pandey, convenor of the Sanyukt Pratiyogi Chhatra Hunkar Manch, an organization based in Prayagraj representing aspirants of competitive government recruitment examinations. 

Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission issued advertisements to initiate the recruitment process for 12,405 posts of Teachers. Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission, Dr Prashant Kumar, said that the Commission has issued an advertisement for 897 vacant posts of Assistant Teacher (Attached Primary) in aided non-government secondary schools under the Secondary Education Department and 11,508 vacant posts of Assistant Teacher (Urban) under the Basic Education Department. In addition, an advertisement has also been published for 2,607 vacant posts in the Lecturer Cadre (PGT) in aided non-government secondary schools under the Secondary Education Department.

“Under the advertisement issued by the Commission, recruitment will be conducted for the posts of Assistant Teacher [Attached Primary] and Assistant Teacher [Urban]. A total of 12,405 posts are included under these two categories. Meanwhile, under Advertisement No. 06/2026, recruitment will be conducted for 2,607 posts in the Lecturer Cadre [PGT]. Thus, a total of 15,012 vacant posts will be filled through the two advertisements,” he added. 

Reacting to the advertisement, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh wrote on X, “Just imagine, in a State where 1 lakh 93 thousand teacher posts are vacant, after a long wait of eight years, the government announced recruitment for only 11,508 posts. The requirement is 1 lakh 93 thousand; recruitment is only for 11 thousand 508. This is not recruitment; it is a joke with unemployed youth.”