Porvorim: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday informed legislators that the state cabinet has decided to regularise the employment of all contractual employees in the education sector who have completed 10 years of service, including Samagra Shiksha teachers.Sawant told the legislative assembly that even those teachers working under centrally sponsored schemes will be considered for regularisation, with offer letters expected to be issued by Oct.“We will give them offer letters in Oct and make them permanent. In the same way, the school counsellors will also be regularised for those who have completed 10 years. Those who have worked for five years will also be regularised in time. In the ITIs also, those who have completed 10 years of employment, we have taken a decision to make them permanent. All issues will be resolved by Oct-Nov,” said Sawant.Sawant also said that those contractual staff who have not completed 10 years will also be considered for a pay hike. He said that govt has initiated the process to recognise pre-primary school teachers and bring them under the department rules and regulations, which are being finalised.“If possible, I will tell the department to come out with an ordinance because as per NEP, we have to give them recognition,” said Sawant.He was responding to a calling attention motion moved by Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai on Goa’s unemployment trends and the lack of adequate job opportunities in the teaching field.Citing central data, Sardesai said Goa’s unemployment rate stands at 8.3%, against the national average of 3.1%, while unemployment among the youth was at 14.8%.He questioned govt’s decision to treat school counsellors as temporary employees, saying around 135 counsellors are working across schools and performing essential duties.Sardesai also highlighted the plight of around 3,000 pre-primary teachers working in nearly 800 schools, many of whom, he said, earn a mere Rs 6,000– Rs 10,000 per month.He also raised concerns over 150+ vocational teachers on contracts ending in March 2027 and 31 Forest Development Corporation workers who have been working since 2003 without adequate employment benefits.“If the work is permanent, why is the worker temporary?” Sardesai said.
