Thiruvananthapuram: The government has decided to waive the preference given for high school teachers during higher secondary appointments in the state.

Until now, preference was given to  High School teachers with 10 years of teaching experience. They were able to avail the posts in the higher secondary section through transfer.

The General Education Department has issued an order that those who have cleared the Higher Secondary appointment prerequisite State Eligibility Test (SET) would be given preference for recruitment into Kerala PSC Higher Secondary School Teacher (HSST), HSST junior posts. Only in the absence of such candidates would the 10-year experience (High School teacher) criteria be considered. The order, passed by the joint secretary Meenambika M.I. also clarified that an amendment will be made to the Kerala Education Act & Rules in this regard.

Since the inception of the higher secondary section after separating it from the pre-degree colleges in 1997, teachers with specified qualifications in the high school as well as primary sections were appointed in higher secondary sections through the transfer of posts.