With a view not to cause any problem in the process of learning for students in government schools, the State Government has decided to appoint 9,335 education (Vidya) volunteers for the ongoing academic year.
The decision has been taken since the process of recruitment of regular teachers by the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) is time-consuming. The Vidya volunteers would continue temporarily in the existing vacancies of secondary grade teachers, school assistants and language pandits till the regular teachers are recruited.
1.2 lakh teachers in State
Earlier this year, the government decided to handover the responsibility of recruitment of teachers to TSPSC in place of District Selection Committee (DSC) for selection of teachers in a professional way. About 1.2 lakh teachers are working in nearly 26,000 schools managed by the State Government and local bodies.
The system of Vidya volunteers was introduced in the late ‘90s in combined Andhra Pradesh with a view to meet the shortage of regular teachers so that the standards of imparting education were maintained by appointing candidates with required qualifications on meagre monthly honorarium starting from Rs.1,000. About 8,000 vidya volunteers were appointed in Telangana during 2015-16 academic year.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao cleared the file for appointment of Vidya volunteers on Monday in a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister K. Srihari, who also handles the portfolio of education. Several issues pertaining to school education department were discussed at the meeting.
Official sources stated that the Directorate of School Education would issue guidelines for appointment of Vidya volunteers in a couple of days. Based on the guidelines, the district Collectors would select the para teachers.
During the last academic year, the Vidya volunteers were paid an honorarium between Rs.9,000 and Rs.12,000 per month.
Decision was taken as the process of recruitment of regular teachers by TSPSC
is time-consuming
