Stir planned over vacant posts for sports teachers

Eligible candidates have announced an indefinite protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan from April 27. Around 4,860 posts for sports teachers are currently vacant in the state, with the last round of recruitment being conducted in 2014

MUMBAI: Lack of recruitment of physical education teachers in government-aided urban and rural schools in Maharashtra has prospective candidates threatening an agitation if the authorities fail to address the issue soon.

Stir planned over vacant posts for sports teachers

Eligible candidates have announced an indefinite protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan from April 27. Around 4,860 posts for sports teachers are currently vacant in the state, with the last round of recruitment being conducted in 2014.

In January 2025, the state had issued a government resolution to fill these posts in state-run zilla parishad and government-aided schools. However, more than a year later, the recruitment process has not begun. Eligible candidates, many holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education (B Ped and M Ped) say they are running out of patience.

Several schools in urban and rural areas function without full-time physical education teachers. Many rely on contractual staff, who are paid as little as ₹150 per day, raising concerns about the quality of physical education being imparted.

MYSSM secretary Tayappa Shendge said, “The protest will be peaceful and conducted through legal means, with participation expected from candidates across the state.”

Among the key demands are the immediate filling of all vacant posts through the Pavitra portal under the Teacher Eligibility Test 2025, and ensuring that physical education posts are not diverted or adjusted with teachers from other subjects. The organisation has wants the ongoing MAHA TAIT 2025 recruitment process to be expedited.

Mumbai-based school principal Sudam Kumbhar said, “Due to procedural hurdles, many government-aided schools are unable to appoint sports teachers even when there is a clear need.” He said that unless recruitment processes are streamlined, students will continue to face unequal access to proper physical education.

A senior officer from the state school education department said there is no recruitment for physical education teachers underway at present. “Once we receive orders from higher authorities, we will submit a proposal for recruitment,” he said.