Many government primary schools in Kozhikode continue to remain headless
The Hindu
Legal battle between State government and a section of teachers qualified to be promoted as head teachers
Government Mappila Upper Primary School, Chennamangallur, in Kozhikode, has over 1,200 students and Government Mappila Upper Primary School, Kodiyathur, has around 1,000. Both do not have a head teacher at the helm for the past couple of years.
They are among the 151 government primary schools in the district where senior teachers have been given charge due to a legal tangle. There are 17 educational sub-districts in Kozhikode, in which Feroke, Mukkom, and Kozhikode city have the largest number of such schools without a head teacher, according to sources. Government Lower Primary School, Kothamangalam, Koyilandy, reportedly has the largest number of students without a head teacher. The teachers claim that it was difficult to take forward administration and teaching duties together.
There are over 1,600 such head-less schools across the State. The legal battle is between the State government and a section of teachers who are qualified to be promoted as head teachers. At least 12 years of teaching experience, and clearing of department-level tests and an exam on the Kerala Education Act and Rules (KEAR) are mandatory as per the Right to Education Act to become a head teacher. The Act had given three years from 2011 for aspirants to pass the mandatory Account (Lower) test conducted by the Kerala Public Service Commission and the KEAR test. The Education Department exempted those who turned 50 by June 2, 2014, from this rule. Promotions based on this were questioned in the Kerala High Court, which directed the government to issue a notification.
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