Maharashtra to hire contract teachers for Ashram schools
The Maharashtra government has cleared a proposal to recruit 1,791 teachers on a contract basis for government-run Ashram schools, marking a major policy shift in how teaching vacancies in tribal areas are addressed.
The Tribal Development Department has sanctioned a budget of ₹84.74 crore for the initiative, with recruitment to be done through external agencies via the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. This decision is aimed at filling long-pending teaching posts across Ashram schools through outsourcing, following the department’s revised administrative structure issued on November 16, 2023. According to the official resolution, the contractual roles include 229 higher secondary teachers, 455 secondary teachers, 120 graduate primary teachers, 178 English primary teachers, and 809 Marathi primary teachers. The move, however, has sparked criticism. Education expert and former principal Mahendra Ganpule questioned the reliance on outsourcing when the state already has an active recruitment mechanism through the Pavitra portal. “What message are we sending to aspiring teachers preparing for permanent roles? The fact that a 2022 proposal is being approved now shows how long these positions have remained vacant,” he said, also pointing to inconsistencies in the state’s approach to educational staffing.
The Ashram School Scheme, operational since 1972–73, was designed to improve the socio-economic conditions of Scheduled Tribes residing in remote and hilly regions of Maharashtra. These residential schools, managed by the Tribal Development Department, aim to offer quality education and support to tribal children with the goal of improving their overall development. At present, there are 497 government-run and 556 government-aided Ashram schools operating under the department. While the schools continue to serve as critical education hubs in tribal areas, the decision to bring in contract teachers raises concerns about the long-term implications for teaching quality and workforce stability. Education advocates argue that the success of these schools depends on consistent, well-trained, and motivated teachers. Critics fear that outsourcing teaching jobs may lead to high attrition, lack of accountability, and diluted educational outcomes in regions that already face challenges of access and equity.
The government, however, maintains that the decision is a necessary step to ensure that tribal students are not deprived of learning opportunities due to vacant posts, especially in areas where recruiting full-time staff has proven difficult.
