KOCHI: More than 600 headmaster and headmistress (HM) posts remain vacant in government lower primary (LP) and upper primary (UP) schools across Kerala.
Teachers say the post has become increasingly unattractive due to the heavy administrative workload and uncertainties over promotion and service benefits.
In Ernakulam district alone, around 55 to 60 headmasters retire every year, but only about 15 teachers or fewer take up the position, according to teachers’ representatives.
“The post comes with numerous responsibilities, many of which go beyond the school’s scope. Headmasters have to coordinate with government departments such as the local self-government, handle schemes from the state and central governments, and manage day-to-day school administration — all without clerical support,” said Martin Abraham (name changed), a teacher at a government LP school in Ernakulam.
A long-pending court case has also contributed to the shortage. The government’s decision in 2011 to promote teachers above 50 years of age as headmasters was challenged in court.
The Kerala Education Rules (KER) stipulate that promotion to HM requires 12 years of continuous graduate service and passing the Accounts Test (Lower) and the Kerala Education Act & Rules test, under Rule 44A(1).
“With the case pending for years, vacancies began piling up, especially after the Covid shutdown,” said retired headmaster Basel K V, from Alappuzha.
To address the shortage, the state introduced a new rule allowing promotion purely based on seniority, invoking Rule 13B of the Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rules (KS&SSR).
This rule exempts officials over 50 years of age with 25 years of service from departmental tests.
Promotions were also determined by Rule 27, which establishes seniority as the basis. However, many teachers contest this approach.
“In education, qualification and capability should matter, not just seniority. These emergency rules were never meant for regular academic promotions,” said Alby, another teacher from Ernakulam.
The temporary nature of such promotions has also created complications. Teachers promoted under these provisions often face delays in receiving salaries and benefits.
“Since the posts are not regularised, getting service benefits becomes difficult. One HM had to approach the court for his pending dues,” Basel said. As the reluctance to accept promotions grows, the state government has issued a directive requiring teachers who wish to opt out of promotion to inform authorities before the seniority list is published.
“Once the list is out, they must accept the post or face disciplinary action,” Martin said. Apart from administrative and legal issues, the workload itself discourages teachers.
“LP and UP headmasters have to give classes in addition to handling school administration. They oversee noon-meal schemes, coordinate education projects at the panchayat level, attend multiple meetings with block resource centres (BRC), assistant education officers (AEO), and even departments like police and excise,” said retired HM Yeldho K V of Kottayam.
“They are also responsible for organising arts, sports, and science festivals. With so many duties, they rarely find time to manage their own schools,” he said.
With the post becoming increasingly burdensome, many teachers nearing retirement are willing to take it up, but younger teachers with years of service ahead prefer to avoid it.
Several educators suggest that the government consider filling the post through the Public Service Commission (PSC) to ensure administrative efficiency and reduce the burden on teaching staff.
Five districts with most vacancies in govt primary schools
Malappuram: 121
Thiruvanthapuram: 99
Kollam: 54
Kasaragod: 54
Kozhikode: 49
Ernakulam: 42
(Source: Entered vacancy published by DDE office, as on 21-05-2025)
The story is reported by Anu Kuruvilla for The New Indian Express