Thiruvananthapuram: The Higher Education Department has forwarded the file regarding the appointment of college teachers that was stuck in red tape to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for consideration. It is reported that the matter will be placed before the cabinet for approval, as 138 new posts need to be created.

Earlier, 'Mathrubhumi' reported that the file had remained pending at the official level despite the CPM and the state government adopting a policy decision to appoint college teachers. The government intervened after considering that the validity of several PSC rank lists is set to expire this month.

Officials had raised objections, stating that the workload assessment under the new four-year degree structure had not been completed. They also argued that fresh appointments could not be made without transferring the additional 90 posts identified earlier to other institutions.

Now, the 90 previously calculated additional posts will be reassessed, while 48 new posts will be created separately. This restructuring is being undertaken because posts were not sanctioned for courses approved before and after 2020, when PG weightage was abolished, and the workload order was introduced. Teachers’ organisations maintain that, beyond the posts required for newly sanctioned courses, there are also 238 vacancies resulting from teacher retirements.