Thiruvananthapuram: Department of General Education has chosen not to follow Kerala Child Rights Commission's directive of universally addressing school tutors as 'Teachers', regardless of gender.

A meeting presided over by the General Education Director on Tuesday decided to maintain the current practice of addressing teachers, a position backed by the teachers' unions. Meanwhile, the government will inform the Commission of its stand on the matter. 

Earlier, the Commission, in a remarkable order, resolved to move on with promoting gender equality in state schools and discontinue the practice of addressing teachers with titles such as sir and madam. 

Furthermore, the commission also directed the general education department to take action to adopt 'teacher' as the general term for address in schools.