Teacher appointments in differently-abled quota: Kerala govt considers restricting posts to higher classes

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala General Education Department is considering limiting the appointment of teachers with disabilities in aided schools to higher classes, according to recommendations in a government package report.

Teachers directly interact with children aged between 5 and 17 and play an important role in their learning and development. The report said students in lower primary (LP) and upper primary (UP) classes require care and attention suited to their age.  

It recommended introducing criteria to ensure that teachers appointed under differently-abled reservation have the functional ability required for the responsibilities of the post. At the same time, the report called for a scientific approach that protects both the rights of persons with disabilities and children's right to safe education.

At present, reservation is available to persons with at least 40% disability. However, there is no specified upper limit on the percentage of disability for appointment to teaching posts.

The report said this has resulted in people with mental health conditions and multiple disabilities also being appointed as teachers. It noted that there is currently no uniform assessment system to determine whether a candidate has the functional ability needed to perform the basic duties of a teaching post.

Against this backdrop, the report recommended fixing the maximum level of disability at 70% for such appointments.

The report pointed out that a teacher's responsibilities extend beyond academic duties. Teachers are also expected to play an important role in ensuring students' safety, confidence and social development.

It recommended that the Social Justice Department formulate criteria to assess whether candidates have the functional capacity required to perform these responsibilities.

Candidates may also be required to obtain a job-specific physical and functional ability certificate from a medical board, according to the report.

The report further recommended that appointments should not be based solely on the legally certified percentage or category of a person's disability. Instead, the functional requirements of the teaching post should also be considered.