Practising graduates need to be graduates
The school education and sports department has now exempted practicing teachers from following the new eligibility norms that were brought in place to improve the teaching standards, states a latest government resolution (GR) in Maharashtra.
In a move that could dilute the standards set for teachers under the Right to Education Act (2009), the state government has relaxed the eligibility norms for serving primary teachers.
The school education and sports department has now exempted practicing teachers from following the new eligibility norms that were brought in place to improve the teaching standards, states a latest government resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday.
The state had upgraded the eligibility criteria for primary school teachers, making it mandatory for them to have a degree.
The government had given time till 2015 for practicing teachers who did not have graduate degrees to upgrade their qualifications.
Many teachers did not have graduate degrees as the earlier rules said that a diploma in education pursued after Class 12 was sufficient to become a teacher.
As per the latest GR, practicing teachers from Class 1 to Class 8 will no longer have to upgrade their qualifications.
“The clause on educational and professional qualifications for teachers mentioned in the GR on new eligibility norms issued in February is not applicable to practicing primary teachers,” reads the GR.
The norms will now remain applicable only for new teachers, implying that teaching aspirants will have to be graduates before they become teachers.
