Restart recruitment of teachers immediately, GCTO urges state govt

Kochi: The Kerala Government College Teachers' Organization (GCTO) has raised concerns over the state govt's suspension of teacher recruitment and demands the immediate resumption of hiring. The organisation points out that the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) has intensified teachers' workload, but no replacements are being appointed even for the retired faculty.
GCTO office-bearers said the elimination of additional weightage for postgraduate classes and the requirement of a minimum 16-hour workload for permanent teacher appointments have contributed to the current situation. "Vacancies are not being filled in colleges that were granted new courses or in retirement vacancies. An unofficial hiring freeze has been in place in govt colleges for several years," general secretary of GCTO, Alson Mart, said.
Mart emphasised that the implementation of FYUGP in the current academic year has substantially increased the responsibilities of current teachers and the quality of education in govt colleges is deteriorating due to insufficient permanent faculty along with the excessive workloads.
"PSC rank lists for college teaching positions were released in 2012 and again in 2023 and 2024. Even top-ranked candidates are not being appointed. The govt has not yet decided on positions that are said to be in excess, which is the root cause of this issue," Mart alleged.
GCTO has called for immediate govt intervention through the appointment of current PSC rank holders to ensure the effective functioning of govt colleges. The GCTO officials also said that during the previous UDF govt, supernumerary positions were established to safeguard rank-listed candidates' interests.