Pune: Teaching staff who have been appointed through the ongoing teacher recruitment program in Maharashtra will now be required to pass an additional examination to secure their permanent positions.

This new directive has been issued by Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, who has instructed the Maharashtra State Examination Council to implement the measure.

The move is set to impact thousands of candidates who, until now, were assured of job permanence after a three-year probationary period.

The recent teacher recruitment drive through the Pavitra portal led to the appointment of 14,000 candidates as teaching staff for a three-year term.

However, unlike the previous system where teaching staff were automatically made permanent teachers after three years, the new rule requires them to pass a separate examination conducted by the Maharashtra State Examination Council.

Those who fail to clear this exam will face termination, effectively losing their jobs after three years of service.

The decision has raised concerns among the newly appointed teaching staff, who already underwent rigorous testing to secure their current positions.

For many, this additional exam represents an unexpected hurdle in their quest for job security. Currently, around 5,000 additional candidates are still waiting for their appointments, and they too will be subjected to this new rule.

Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar discussed the introduction of this exam criterion during a meeting with senior officials of the education department, including the Education Director, Education Officers, and ministry secretaries.

According to sources, the next steps involve drafting the necessary regulations and issuing an ordinance to formalize the decision.