4,224 teacher posts, 944 head teacher vacancies remain unfilled in Kerala government schools

Malappuram: A total of 4,224 teaching posts remain vacant in government LP, UP, High School, Higher Secondary and Vocational Higher Secondary (VHSE) schools across Kerala. More than half of these vacancies—2,734 posts—are in the LP, UP and High School categories.

High Schools account for the highest number of vacancies with 1,260 posts, followed by LP and UP schools with 737 vacancies each. Malappuram has the highest number of vacancies in these three categories, with 464 posts lying vacant, while Idukki has the fewest at 41.

The Higher Secondary School Teacher (Junior) category has the next highest number of vacancies, with 713 posts across the state. In addition, there are 225 vacancies for Higher Secondary School Teachers (HSSST).

The Vocational Higher Secondary sector has 378 vacancies for Vocational Teachers, posts that are currently being filled on a daily-wage basis, and 156 vacancies for Vocational Instructors. There are also 14 vacancies for Non-Vocational Teacher (Junior) posts and four for the Senior category, to which the existing appointment ban does not apply.

Meanwhile, 944 Head Teacher posts remain vacant across various districts. The LP category accounts for the highest number of these vacancies, with 446 posts, followed by High Schools with 260, UP schools with 151, and Higher Secondary schools with 87.

The remaining vacancies will be reported to the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) after accommodating teachers affected by cadre reduction. Transfers of Higher Secondary school principals are currently under way. In the VHSE sector, permanent appointments have not been made as the Vocational Teacher and Vocational Instructor posts are classified under the 'vanishing category'.