Thiruvananthapuram: The State Cabinet has decided to retain the 1:40 teacher-to-student ratio for high school teaching posts this year, despite opposing views from the State Finance Department. The Department of General Education would issue an order to this effect.
As per the Government’s statistics, there has been an increase of 9 lakh students in public schools over the past six years. Earlier, at a time when the number of students was less, a concessional ratio of 1:40 was allowed to protect the high school teachers, as part of staff fixation. This concession is no more needed, according to the Finance Department. An order was also issued stripping the teachers of this concession, a few months ago. The Cabinet has now decided to relax that order and continue the protection for teachers this year.
The stipulated teacher-student ratio for high school teaching is 1:45; ie, one teacher for 45 students. This was relaxed in schools which did not have enough students in the previous years. The concession was allowed to protect the teaching posts in Classes 9 and 10.
The teachers’ associations had pointed to similar issues again this time and demanded protection. Following this, the State Education Minister assured the teachers’ associations that the concession would be continued this year. However, the Finance Department opposed this move, citing that the managements of the Government aided school might misuse the concession allowed continuously and appoint more staff to the additional posts.
The General Education Department stuck to the stand that the concession can be allowed as the academic year is to end in another four months. Subsequently, the State Cabinet was left to decide on the matter.