Panaji (GOA): With Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) setting March 2019 as a deadline for elementary teachers to avail training, the Goa Government has directed all the unqualified teachers to get themselves enroll them for the programme by September 15, failing which would be dismissed from the service.

In a circular issued by the Director Education GP Bhat, said that as per the directions of MHRD, all regular untrained elementary level teachers including head of schools teaching in government aided, unaided, special schools have to complete Diploma in Elementary Education (D. El.Ed) by 2019 in order to be qualified to teach at the elementary level.

The untrained teachers can opt for courses through open distance learning mode on National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

“All the unqualified in-service teachers in the government, government aided, unaided, special schools, who fail to enroll on or before September 15 are liable to face removal or dismissal procedure against them,” Bhat said.

Bhat said that this will be the last and final chance to acquire the required minimum professional qualification for the teachers teaching at the elementary level. “Any teacher, who does not have minimum qualification mandated under the Right to Education Act 2009, would not be allowed to continue in the service beyond April 1, 2019 and procedure for dismissal shall be initiated against such teachers,” he said.

Further, the primary teachers who have done certificate in  primary education (CPE) or one year diploma course or any other course of less than two years duration are demmed to be untrained for this purpose and are required to undergo this course.

The minimum qualification for undergoing the programme is 50 percent marks in XII, with relaxation upto 45 percent in case of ST, SC, OBC and Physically challenged candidate.

However, the government has clarified that the course completion does not entitle them to be regularized in the service