The appointment of temporary teachers in government schools across Tamil Nadu may face a significant delay, potentially pushing it back by at least a month. This delay is attributed to the ongoing delay in teacher transfer counseling, which plays a crucial role in determining vacancies and staffing needs in schools statewide.
Last year, over 14,000 temporary teachers were deployed, primarily in northern districts where teacher vacancies exceeded 50% in many schools. However, with the impending delay in teacher transfer counseling, the appointment of temporary teachers is expected to be postponed, raising concerns about its impact on students' education.
The delay in teacher transfer counseling, initially scheduled for the last week of May, stems from representations made to the election commission by the primary teachers' association. They argued that conducting counseling during the model code of conduct period would be inappropriate. Additionally, recent government orders transferring the determination of seniority and promotions for teachers to the state level have further complicated the situation, prompting calls for postponement of counseling until June 4.
Typically spanning a month, the transfer counseling process is crucial for identifying vacancies and facilitating the appointment of temporary teachers. However, with the uncertainty surrounding the counseling schedule, the process of filling these vacancies is likely to be significantly delayed, affecting the overall functioning of schools, especially in northern districts where teacher shortages are acute.
Concerns have been raised by stakeholders, including the Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary Headmasters' Association, emphasizing the urgent need for interim measures to ensure timely appointment of temporary teachers. Failure to address this issue promptly could lead to disruptions in syllabus completion and potentially impact examination results in the upcoming academic year.
While officials from the school education department acknowledge the challenge, they assure that efforts are underway to expedite the process. However, they highlight the need to first address the posting of over 3,000 newly recruited graduate teachers before issuing orders for the appointment of temporary teachers. Despite the challenges, officials are committed to resolving the situation swiftly to minimize disruptions to the education system.
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