The government today said there is a shortage of over 12 lakh teachers in the country. Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Human Resource Development minister Kapil Sibal said states should give more incentives to the teaching community and urged upon the states to fill the vacancies soon. Mr. Sibal underlined the need for opening more BEd and MEd colleges. The minister said under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan an additional over one lakh 37 thousand teacher posts have been sanctioned. Mr. Sibal asked the state governments for redeployment of teachers in schools so that the prescribed pupil teacher ratio will be maintained.