Bhubaneswar, Aug 2: In a major move to address teacher shortages across Odisha’s secondary education sector, the School & Mass Education Department has announced the appointment of guest teachers in aided high schools, block grant high schools, and Sanskrit TOLs.

The initiative aims to fill vacant teaching positions until regular teachers are recruited.

According to an official letter issued by the Directorate of Secondary Education, 6,387 retired teachers will be re-engaged as guest educators. These appointments will be temporary and subject to vacancy status in respective schools.

District Education Officers (DEOs) have been instructed to submit updated vacancy data to the Secondary Education Council. Based on this data, guest teachers will be deployed in schools where TGT (Trained Graduate Teacher) posts are vacant or awaiting new appointments.

The guest teachers will serve until regular recruitment is completed or permanent teachers are posted. Once a regular teacher joins, the guest teacher will be relieved from duty.

This move comes amid growing concerns over academic disruption in rural and semi-urban schools due to staff shortages. The government hopes that re-engaging experienced retired teachers will help maintain teaching quality and ensure continuity in classroom instruction.

The selection process will be coordinated at the district level, and preference will be given to retired teachers with strong service records.

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