Pune: The state govt has increased the honorarium paid to teachers working on an hourly basis in govt residential schools, citing rising inflation and difficulties in attracting qualified teachers at the existing rates.From the academic year 2026-27, eligible teachers will be paid between Rs205 and Rs250 per hour. The social justice and special assistance department issued a govt resolution (GR) announcing the revised rates on Aug 25. The department runs 100 govt residential schools across Maharashtra for boys and girls from Scheduled Caste and Neo-Buddhist communities. A large number of regular teaching posts in these schools are vacant. To prevent students from suffering academically, teachers are appointed on an hourly basis for a temporary period of 11 months.The honorarium was last fixed in the 2019-20 fiscal year and had remained unchanged despite the rise in living costs. The department said the low rates had made it difficult to attract quality teachers to the residential schools.Section officer Deepali Shahare said, “The nature of these schools also requires teachers to take on responsibilities beyond classroom teaching. Teachers are expected to remain available for longer periods and also work as daily supervisors for students staying on campus. They are also required to conduct additional classes for students who have not achieved the expected learning levels in their respective classes.”The department said the increase was aimed at ensuring that qualified teachers are available and improving the academic standards of the residential schools.Under the revised rates, honorarium will be calculated for up to 105 hours per month. A fully qualified secondary school teacher will receive Rs250 per hour, while a secondary teacher with incomplete qualifications will receive Rs225 per hour. Trained primary teachers will also be paid Rs225 per hour, while untrained primary teachers will receive Rs205 per hour. “However, the revised rates will apply only to teachers who complete their monthly teaching requirement of five periods a day, the GR stated,” added Shahare.Teachers to sign Rs500 stamp paper agreementThe govt has clarified that appointment of teachers on an hourly basis is only a temporary arrangement to ensure that students do not suffer because of vacant regular posts. The resolution also states that such teachers will not have any right to seek permanent or regular appointment in govt service in future. The condition is based on various Supreme Court orders and a circular issued by the general administration department. Teachers appointed under the arrangement will therefore have to sign an agreement on a Rs500 stamp paper acknowledging that their appointment is temporary and does not create any right to regularisation.
