18 rank lists extended, but appointments remain uncertain

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The validity of 18 Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) rank lists for the appointment of teachers in government schools is set to be extended by six months. The State Cabinet has recommended that the PSC extend the validity of the lists, which cover pre-primary, primary, high school and higher secondary teacher posts.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said the lists that are due to expire in September, October and November would be covered by the extension.

The government had earlier extended the validity of all PSC rank lists due to expire by August 31 to November 30 after assuming office.

Satheesan said the teacher rank lists had not resulted in enough appointments due to delays related to census duty, Booth Level Officer (BLO) assignments, inter-district transfers, the determination of sanctioned posts, and the reporting of vacancies to the PSC.

Extension does not mean more vacancies

The decision has offered little relief to many candidates, as extending the validity of the rank lists does not automatically create more vacancies. Several of the lists being extended are district-level lists, and inclusion in them does not guarantee an appointment.

In Kollam district, for example, there are 30 vacancies in the Upper Primary (UP) section and 58 in the Lower Primary (LP) section. Around 200 candidates are included in each of the respective rank lists. However, a review based on student strength showed that 59 UP teacher posts and 69 LP teacher posts had been reduced. The teachers who have lost these posts will have to be accommodated against new vacancies.

Across the State, there are around 850 teacher posts that are additional in this manner. Candidates from the rank lists can be appointed only after these teachers are accommodated. A further reduction in the teacher-student ratio would be required to create fresh appointments. The ratio would have to be brought down from 1:30 to 1:25. The government has not taken a decision on this proposal, as it would impose an additional financial burden.

Rank lists to be extended

Pre-primary/Primary

• Pre-Primary Teacher — Category No. 519/2019
• UP Part-Time Arabic — Category No. 402/2020
• UP Physical Education — Category No. 525/2019

High School

• Social Science — Category No. 203/2021
• Malayalam — Category No. 255/2021
• Hindi — Category No. 562/2021
• English — Category No. 254/2021
• Mathematics — Category No. 383/2020
• Natural Science — Category No. 384/2020
• Full-Time Junior Arabic — Category No. 520/2019
• Part-Time Hindi — Category No. 422/2019
• Drawing — Category No. 524/2019

Higher Secondary

• English — Category No. 728/2021
• Junior English — Category No. 730/2021
• History — Category No. 486/2019
• Junior Zoology — Category No. 738/2021
• Junior Geography — Category No. 736/2021
• Junior Botany — Category No. 737/2021