At least 15 government Higher secondary schools are functioning without permanent teacher positions for the last 8 years. In 2014, 67 govt schools were started following a high court ruling since there were several panchayats which had no facility for higher secondary education. Out of the new schools, at least 15 of them have this plight. The schools are situated at Pathanamthitta (5), Palakkad (3), Kollam (2), Kottayam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kannur (1 each).
According to the Higher secondary special rule, two years after the start of the new batch if there are 25 students each in 2 batches new recruitments for teachers should be done. But last year’s govt had ordered that new teachers should be hired only in those baches that have more than 50 students for the last 3 years.
In most schools, more than 50 students are admitted. But within a week these students will shift to other schools when they realise that not only are there no permanent teachers but there won’t be any extracurricular programmes like NSS, NCC and sports (which gives academic weightage). Once again, permanent teachers' recruitment will be in jeopardy.
The temporary teachers who are hired by the high schools' headmasters decide on all matters of the school including admissions.
“We are trying our best to speed up the process of hiring permanent teachers,” Muhammad Haneesh, Public Education Principle Secretary, said.