No Chair Teacher

At one of the better colleges in India's capital, there is just one large room for 140 faculty members to sit and have a cup of tea or grade papers. "If even half show up, there aren't enough chairs," said Ghazala Amin, a history professor there. "There is no other place to work. In this situation, how do you expect teachers to work?"

For five years, Seema Kumari has taught Science to children aged 3 to 12 at a government school in Bihar's Gopalgunj district. She sits on the floor while she's coaching her students. In her classroom, there is no chair for her. "I am from a lower caste. That's why they don't let me sit on a chair. I have gone through a lot of agony because of...

At one of the better colleges in India's capital, there is just one large room for 140 faculty members to sit and have a cup of tea or grade papers. "If even half show up, there aren't enough chairs," said Ghazala Amin, a history professor there. "There is no other place to work. In this situation, how do you expect teachers to work?"

For five years, Seema Kumari has taught Science to children aged 3 to 12 at a government school in Bihar's Gopalgunj district. She sits on the floor while she's coaching her students. In her classroom, there is no chair for her. "I am from a lower caste. That's why they don't let me sit on a chair. I have gone through a lot of agony because of...