Teachers’ association, educationists urge Karnataka govt. to continue guest teachers’ service till April-end

The Karnataka State Primary and Secondary School Guest Teachers Association as well as educationists have urged the State government to continue the services of guest teachers at least till April 30.

The Karnataka State Primary and Secondary School Guest Teachers Association as well as educationists have urged the State government to continue the services of guest teachers at least till April 30.

As per the rules, the guest teachers’ service will end by March 31. However, the academic year 2024-25 will end on April 10 and schools will declare summer vacation. After that, other processes, including school enrolment, will continue.

“The academic year of 2024-25 will end on April 10 and then summer vacation will be declared. The Samudayadatta Shale programme will be held on April 8, and we have made necessary preparations. Since our service ends at the end of March, the headmaster has asked us to come to school until the Samudayadatta Shale programme is over. However, the government will not provide remuneration for this period. We should go to school in the interest of the children. However, I am confused as to how I will work without any remuneration,” said a guest teacher.

There are 49,338 and 11,796 posts of teachers vacant in government primary and high schools in the State, respectively. Against this, the government has appointed a total of 43,553 guest teachers, including 34,455 in primary schools and 9,098 in high schools for 2024-25. As per government rules, the service period of guest teachers is from June to the end of March.

V.P. Niranjanaradhya, developmental educationist, has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanding that the guest teachers’ service be continued at least till the end of April.

“Usually, examinations are conducted in schools till March 31. After this, the work of consolidation of these assessments, maintenance of records and preparation of student-wise progress reports takes place in April. Finally, before the summer vacation for schools, the progress report should be delivered to the parents through the Samudayadatta Shale programme and the work of formulating a programme should be done by discussing with the parents about the children’s learning, preparation for the next academic year, etc. In most schools in the State, there are more guest teachers than permanent teachers, and all these tasks have to be performed by the guest teachers. But finalising their services by the end of March will be a setback for all these tasks,” he said in the letter.

The Karnataka State Primary and High School Guest Teachers’ Association has urged the government to involve the guest teachers in other processes, including Samudayadatta Shale programme and school admission campaigns, rather than limiting them to only teaching.