The state’s school education department has issued a directive to address staffing in schools with fewer than 20 students. According to the new policy, one of the two sanctioned teachers at these schools will be transferred, with the option to replace them with either a retired or unemployed teacher holding a D.Ed. or B.Ed. qualification. Retired teachers who accept these positions will receive a monthly honorarium of ₹15,000.
The appointment process will be managed at the Panchayat Committee level. In cases where a retired teacher is unavailable, a qualified unemployed candidate with the necessary educational qualifications can be appointed in their place. This move comes in response to ongoing complaints about teacher shortages in Zilla Parishad schools.
Current efforts to address vacancies include utilizing the “Pavitra” portal and filling positions on a contract basis. However, the preference to hire retired teachers or other candidates with D.Ed. or B.Ed. qualifications has led to dissatisfaction among some unemployed candidates.
Under the new policy, retired teachers will also receive their pensions in addition to the honorarium. Contract teachers will be employed in schools with fewer than 20 students until the student count surpasses this threshold, at which point a regular teacher will be appointed.