Pay teachers well to attract talent: Sibal

Expressing concern over the 'poor quality' of teachers, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Tuesday said teachers needed to be paid more to ensure quality education.

Speaking at a conference here, he said teaching won't attract talent unless teachers were given proper benefits.

'There is no uniformity in salaries of teachers. No medical benefit, no house rent allowance, incentive or pension,' Sibal said. 

'Even parents encourage their children to go for jobs that get them liquid capital (money)... Unless we realise it is the most important to invest in building human capital by educating children, we can't do anything,' he said. 

The minister also said there was a need to formulate a system that helped teachers update themselves with latest knowledge in their field.