This to do away with primary teachers teaching more than one class: Reddy

There will be 350 new teachers next year, 250 for primary and 100 for secondary schools, says Minister for Education Mahendra Reddy. This follows  the Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s Budget announced on Friday.

Mr Reddy said these new appointments are part of Pillar 3 of the ministry’s reforms on “Delivery by our teachers”.

Mr Reddy said the main objective of the ministry was to do away with primary teachers teaching more than one class or composite classes. He said this was a burden that was affecting the delivery of quality education to students.

“All primary schools should have one teacher for every class,” Mr Reddy said.

He said the increase in rural allowance was also an incentive to attract teachers to teach in rural and remote areas.

For the 715 primary schools, he said 457 had less than eight teachers.

On their salary scales those with diploma will get $16,660 and those with degrees will receive $23,000 per annum. He said new teachers with degrees would be on probation for one year receiving $12,000 and after that $23,000.

“The probation period was needed for the teachers to prove themselves in their profession and also for the ministry to make assessment on their performance,” he said.

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