Pune: The Education Commissionerate has issued comprehensive instructions regarding the selection process of D.Ed. and B.Ed. qualified candidates for schools in Maharashtra with an enrollment of ten or fewer students.

This directive aims to fill one of the two vacant teacher positions on a contractual basis in such schools. The guidelines emphasize that the selected candidate must be a local resident of the Gram Panchayat area, and if multiple local candidates apply, the one with the highest academic marks will be prioritized.

This decision follows the School Education Department's resolution passed on September 23 to appoint qualified candidates to these teaching positions in schools with low student numbers.

However, regional offices sought clarity on the criteria for selecting candidates. As a result, the Education Commissionerate has now outlined additional directives through a circular.

As per the circular, for the 2023-24 academic year, in schools with ten or fewer students, once one of the two teachers has been adjusted per the existing norms, the vacant position can be filled by a local candidate on a contractual basis.

Candidates must belong to the Gram Panchayat area where the school is located. If multiple applications are received from the local area, the selection will be based on the highest marks in D.Ed. (for classes 1 to 5) or B.Ed. (for classes 6 to 8).

In the event of equal qualifications, candidates with higher professional or academic credentials will be given preference. If qualifications are equal, the older candidate will be prioritized. If no local applicants are available, candidates from the taluka or district will be considered.

In addition to this, the guidelines clarify that Zilla Parishads must sign contracts with the Primary Education Officers, while municipal corporations will contract with education officers or administrative officers, and municipal councils will contract with chief officers.

PESA Area Teacher Appointments:

For PESA (Scheduled Areas), the government resolution dated October 5 from the Rural Development Department mandates that appointments in these areas must comply with the Supreme Court's directive.

Candidates from the local Scheduled Tribes category will be appointed on an honorarium basis as a temporary arrangement. Where possible, these appointments will be made in schools with more than ten students, but if no vacancies exist, appointments may be made in schools with fewer than ten students.