New Rules for Teacher Appointments in Gujarat Schools
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A disagreement is unfolding between the Gujarat education department and grant‑in‑aid secondary schools regarding how teaching assistants, known locally as shikshan sahayaks, are appointed.
Recently, the government released a provisional merit list for 3,614 vacancies. Candidates must now pick their preferred schools by July 13. Traditionally, once a candidate chose a school, officials from the District Education Officer (DEO) office would collect pre‑signed appointment letters from the school and distribute them at an official ceremony.
However, following concerns arising from a previous round of recruitment—especially allegations that some schools demanded bribes—school management bodies have taken a new stand. The Gujarat State School Management Federation has instructed schools not to provide any pre‑signed letters to DEOs.
Under the new protocol:
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DEOs will send recommendation letters directly to schools.
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Candidate appointments will be sent by the schools themselves during a formal welcoming event, attended by trustees, staff, and students.
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Appointment letters will be issued after the recommendation, and without prior signature from the school.
This change aims to improve transparency and block potential corruption in the hiring process. But it has also sparked fears of tension: once DEO offices begin requesting pre‑signed letters again, conflict may arise between schools and officials.
In short, the state is shifting away from long-standing norms in order to strengthen fairness—but that shift may be rocky as both sides adjust to the new process.
