Odisha will engage guest faculty in 71 newly upgraded government higher secondary schools after official figures showed 358 vacancies among 1,734 sanctioned teaching posts for the 2026-27 academic session.
The Directorate of Higher Secondary Education has directed district education authorities in 21 districts to begin the selection process and complete it by November 18. The temporary appointments are intended to ensure that academic activities continue in schools that have recently begun offering Classes 11 and 12.
The 71 institutions were earlier government high schools offering education up to Class 10. Their upgrade to the higher secondary level has expanded their academic responsibility, but staffing has not kept pace with the additional classes and subjects. The Directorate has asked the principals of these schools to initiate the process immediately and follow the prescribed schedule.
Retired teachers will be given preference under the engagement guidelines. If eligible retired teachers are not available, fresh candidates will be selected strictly on merit. Candidates applying for the posts must hold a master’s degree in the concerned subject with at least 50% marks or an equivalent grade. For subjects where a Bachelor of Education qualification is required, the degree must be recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education.
The appointments will remain valid until the start of the summer vacation or until a regular postgraduate teacher is posted, whichever comes earlier. This makes the arrangement a stopgap measure rather than a substitute for permanent recruitment to sanctioned teaching posts.
The move follows approval by the School and Mass Education Department. In a letter to district education officers-cum-district project coordinators, DHSE director Niyati Pattnaik set out the process and timelines for selecting the guest faculty. The directorate has instructed local authorities to ensure that the schools do not face disruption during the current academic session.
The decision has also raised concerns among teacher aspirants awaiting regular appointments. They have questioned the use of temporary faculty when qualified candidates are seeking opportunities through permanent recruitment. Their concern is that guest faculty arrangements could delay the filling of regular posts.
The staffing issue extends beyond the 71 schools covered by the latest order. School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond informed the Odisha Assembly in September that recruitment to vacancies in government and government-upgraded higher secondary schools through the Odisha Public Service Commission was underway. Separately, the government is processing the creation of 1,342 additional teaching posts in 193 newly upgraded higher secondary institutions.
The immediate process will now depend on district-level selection and the availability of eligible retired or fresh candidates. The deadline set by the Directorate for completing the engagement process is November 18.
