Gujarat Govt Revokes Circular on Hiring Retired Teachers

Ahmedabad: The state education department has formally withdrawn its controversial circular that permitted the appointment of retired teachers in government and grant-in-aid schools across Gujarat.

The rollback follows widespread protests from educational organisations, unemployed teaching aspirants, and school management associations. Initially, the circular allowed schools to hire retired teachers on an honorarium basis to prevent academic disruption caused by vacant posts. This arrangement was planned even after the regular recruitment of gyan sahayaks (knowledge assistants) in government primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools.

Currently, there are about 17,000 teaching vacancies in grant-in-aid secondary and higher secondary schools across the state. The move sparked criticism from multiple quarters, with opponents arguing that the policy overlooked thousands of qualified but unemployed candidates—including those who cleared or partially cleared the Teacher Aptitude Test (TAT).

Representatives from organisations such as the State School Management Association submitted petitions to the commissioner of schools, demanding that local unemployed teachers be temporarily appointed through district employment exchanges or education offices until gyan sahayaks are formally recruited.

Responding to the backlash, the education department issued a revised circular cancelling the earlier order with immediate effect. The department explained that while the initial plan aimed to address staff shortages quickly, it has now been revoked in light of public opposition. DeshGujarat