Service norms amended to overcome teacher shortage

A recent amendment to the Punjab Education Service Rules 2018 has paved the way for the Education Department to overcome the shortage of principals, headmasters and block primary education officers.

Now, the department can increase the promotion quota from the existing 50 per cent to 75 per cent. In some cases, the quota could go up to 80 per cent. Benefiting nearly 1,500 teachers, officials said the 2018 Rules restricted promotion avenues for some of the cadres like PTI (Elementary), Pre Primary Teachers, Special Educator Teachers (Secondary) and Special Educator Teacher (Elementary) and Vocational Masters.

The recruitment rules were last changed during the Capt Amarinder Singh-led government in 2018, wherein direct appointment of principals had 50 per cent quota and remaining through promotion of headmasters/lecturers.

Prior to the 2018, the direct recruitment quota was 25 per cent. “The prolonged litigation delayed the filling of vacancies. Now, the government has withdrawn the advertisement for direct recruitment. This has paved the way for promotions,” said a functionary.